Good Stuff
School of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Fall 2012
“Keep learning. Never let the brain idle.” George Carlin from How to Stay Young
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Dana Hilbert
Dr. Dana Hilbert, Assistant Professor, Department of Education is in the spotlight. Dr.
Hilbert joined the CU family as an adjunct in 2010, teaching early childhood courses.
CU welcomed her as full-time faculty in 2011.
Dr. Hilbert received her Bachelor’s degree in Family Relations and Child Development
from Oklahoma State University, May 1994. Dana’s professional career began later
that year as a preschool teacher at the Lawrence LP Academy teaching 4 year olds. In
1996, she became a parent educator for the Cotton County Cooperative Extension in a
grant-funded position targeting child development and parenting skills. She also began
the quest for her master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of
Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, earning the degree December 1998. Dana accepted
a position at Lawton Public Schools working as a Speech-Pathologist from 1999—2005
and again from 2008-2009. In addition, she began her pursuit for her Principal’s certificate and Doctorate of Education
in Education Administration, Supervision and Curriculum from the University of Oklahoma.
In 2007, Dana became the founding director of the Rise School of Stillwater-OSU, an inclusive preschool program,
which is now part of the Child Development Laboratory (CDL) at Oklahoma State University. Following this prestigious
endeavor, she returned to Lawton Public Schools in 2009, as the Assistant Director of Special Services. She earned her
Ed.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 2009 as well. Her dissertation was titled “Perceptions of Parents of Preschool Children with and without Disabilities regarding Inclusive Early Childhood Settings.”
Although teaching at the university level had not been a long-term goal for Dr. Hilbert, a love for the students, the
research and the atmosphere of a college campus was fostered while working as an Adjunct Professor at both OSU
and Cameron. As full-time faculty and Assistant Professor, Dr. Hilbert teaches early childhood courses for the Education department and is the faculty sponsor of the Students in Early Childhood Education (SECE).
Dana and her husband Scot have settled in Walters, OK (just south of Lawton) which is also Dana’s hometown. She
and Scot , a veterinarian, have two children. Ryanne is a senior Civil Engineering major at Vanderbilt University, and
Cale, an 8th grade student, is actively involved in football, basketball, and baseball, as well as academics. When not
attending Jr. High athletic events, Dana enjoys traveling with family and friends, and watching college sports. An avid
learner, Dana will never turn down an opportunity to “meet and discuss” over chips and salsa and loves weekends
when she has time to cook and spend quality time with her family.
Development + Service = Success

Dr. Joanni Sailor and Dr. Ramona Hall have each been selected to receive the Hackler Award
for Excellence in Teaching for 2012-13.

Faculty and students in the HPE department attended the Oklahoma Association for Health,
Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance annual convention in Oklahoma City, October 15
and 16. “Cross Country Coaching Strategies” and “How to Build a Good Program” were
topics of the presentations by a team of six Cameron students. Terry Shannon serves as the
OAHPERD General Division Vice-President, and Andra Hunt is the Exercise Science Section
Chair (elect) for the hosting organization.

Jennifer Holloway received the Oklahoma Council for the Social Studies Higher Education
Educator of the Year Award on Sept. 29, 2012, at their conference in Moore, Oklahoma.

The Department of Psychology recently sponsored an initiation dinner for the Psi Chi honor
society. LPCs and LMFTs from the community were asked to join the event to facilitate a
student networking opportunity with local counselors and therapists.
“The love of learning,
the sequestered nooks,
and all the sweet
serenity of books.”
H. W. Longfellow
Explorations In Excellence
Cameron
University
Stephanie White is recognized for her contributions
School of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Office of the Dean, Nance Boyer 1023
2800 W. Gore Blvd.
Lawton, OK 73505
Office 580.581.2339 • Fax 580.581.2553
www.cameron.edu/education_school
The fall semester has been both rewarding and productive for Department of Education
instructor, Stephanie White. Chosen as one of seven professionals from Oklahoma and
Texas, Stephanie was asked to serve on a panel that will compile a list recommended books
for reluctant readers. The text selection will be completed using methods similar to those
employed by the Sequoyah Award committee.
Service learning has proven invaluable to Stephanie and her students in her Children’s Literature course. Student volunteers from her classes regularly read aloud to children in daycares, churches and schools. This interaction provides worthwhile classroom experience; in
addition, the candidates’ abilities to select appropriate literature for reading aloud promotes an emerging confidence in classroom management skills.
Do you have something positive to share with your
colleagues or your students?
Forward your submissions to:
Gina Thornton
Administrative Assistant to the Dean
rthornto@cameron.edu
Back
The
Axe !!
A Children’s Literature course typically entails creating a collection of book reviews; however, White’s students have launched this assignment well beyond the norm. They have
begun to utilize a virtual learning community called Librarything.com. Since beginning the
program this semester, the Children’s Literature students have made contributing book
reviews to Librarything.com a priority. The candidates’ goal is to contribute over 1,000 reviews by the end of the semester.
Additionally, White is exploring the use of Facebook as a platform for professional learning
and development. She maintains contact with many Cameron Alumni on Facebook, regularly posting on topics including Common Core, Language Arts teaching activities and current discussions in Children’s Literature. Former students continue to employ this social
medium as a discussion outlet.
HPE Faculty Introduce “Ask a professor”
Positive feedback and good participation has welcomed the HPE faculty’s “Ask a Professor”
program. Professors ‘hang out’ in the student lounge for advisement or to answer student
questions about homework, tests, etc. The objective is to encourage students to visit with
faculty in a casual atmosphere without having to make an appointment. This practice will
also give students an extra opportunity to receive content clarification before tests.
GIVING TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY
Dr. Thom Balmer attended 20 hours of advanced training titled “Joint Service Officers Training Seminar” in OKC to improve his skills as a
veterans’ service officer. Each month Dr. Balmer assists veterans with disability claims.
Psychology instructor Bob Milan serves as a board member for the Cotton/Comanche County Drug Court Board.
The HPER Club, along with students from the Adapted and Methods courses, assisted in the Special Olympics Swimming competition
which was held on campus Nov. 2. The students served as judges, distributed awards, and helped the athletes during their events.
Drs. Jennifer Holloway and Lisa Weis of RSU worked with SOEA members to organize a clothing and supplies drive for the community
SafeNet organization. The items were distributed prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.
SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS
Rookie of the Year Nominations
Four recent Cameron graduates were nominated for the Lawton Public Schools 2012 Rookie of the Year Award. Margaret Buckley,
Adalia Kamaunu, Gavin Nicholls, and Lorna Phillips, representing Sheridan Road Elementary, Hugh Bish Elementary, Tomlinson Middle
School and MacArthur High School respectively, were chosen for outstanding teaching skills.
Cameron University host to Annual Conference
Cameron University was host to the Oklahoma Association of Marriage and Family Therapy’s Fifth Annual OKAMFT Student and New
Professional Conference, “Children, Families and Trauma: A Systems Approach to Treatment.” The conference was held Friday, November
16, in the McCasland Ballroom at the McMahon Centennial Complex.
The conference featured panel discussions and presentations and was chaired by CU graduate student, Jennifer Baker.
SECE hosts Kids College
The Students in Early Childhood Education (SECE) hosted a Kids College on October 29 th. The Kids College provides activities for
children while their parents attend financial workshops conducted by CU Be Smart! The children participated in pumpkin painting
and leaf rubbings. Making leaf people and creating a giant “kid sized” spider web was also a big hit.