Stephanie J. Richards, PhD
305 Oak Park Circle
Tullahoma, TN 37388
(931)461-8992 h (931)434-2682 cell
email: srichards@tntech.edu
EDUCATION:
2001 University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Doctor of Philosophy in Educational
Administration. GPA 3.9. Dissertation title, “Student Perceptions of Violence: An Exploratory Field
Study”.
1994 University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Master of Education with major in
Educational Administration. GPA 4.0.
1990 Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi. Bachelor of Arts with a major in English and a minor in history.
GPA 3.3.
1993-present Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, Colorado
State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, and
University of Alaska, Juneau, Alaska – approximately 36 additional hours of coursework in Education with
most being focused on math literacy, reading literacy and writing across the curriculum. 3.97 GPA
EXPERIENCE:
2005 – present Assistant Professor, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tennessee.
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Taught the following courses:
EDPY 3300
Evaluation and Guidance
SPED 3000
Teaching Persons with Disabilities in the Regular Classroom
CUED 4150 Middle School Curriculum
CUED 4850 Workshop in Education
CUED 4850 Middle School
ELED 3150
Teaching of Mathematics
ELED 3140
Teaching of Social Studies
ELED 4140
Science for Elementary Teachers
FOED 3800
Field Experience in Education
ELED 4870
Student Teaching I
ELED 4880
Student Teaching II
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Served the University in the following ways:
Member of the Parent Advisory Committee of Tullahoma High School
Interfaced with 128 different teachers in 22 different elementary, middle, and high schools
working in four counties during practicum and student teaching.
Consulted with former students in long term substituting assignments to help with classroom
management ideas in still other schools in surrounding counties.
Acted as a constant liaison in community that knows little of 2+2 program to spread
information in daily interactions with people through church, doctors and other groups with whom
I interact.
Presented information about Tennessee Tech University’s 2+2 Program, Motlow County
Campus, Main Campus at the Shelbyville Rotary Club Meeting on March 22, 2007
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Presented in the following venues:
Tn Association for Middle Schools, Gatlinburg, 2006 – “Scared of School”
Tn Association of Middle Schools, Memphis, 2007 – “Developing Empathy through Teamwork”
National Rural Educators’ Association Conference, Oklahoma City, Ok, 2007 – “Teaching
Empathy and Building Community: A Rural Perspective”
Tennessee Association for Middle Schools, Brentwood, 2008 - “Do You See What I See?”
“Simple Science Experiments” Motlow College Campus, April 21, 2008.
TTU IRA Literacy Council, Cookeville High School, Cookeville, TN, June, 2008. “Camilla Cream
and Tiger Ann Can! But How?”
Southern Regional IRA Conference, Nashville, TN, December 8, 2008. “Camilla Cream and Tiger
Ann Can! But How?”
“Simple Science Experiments” Motlow College Campus, April 28, 2009.
TTU IRA Literacy Council, Cookeville High School, Cookeville, TN, June 11, 2009. “Using
Literature to Deter Bullying”
Tennessee Council for the Social Studies, Memphis, TN, March 11-12, 2010. “Virtual Field Trips”
TTU/TECTA RSCC-Oak Ridge Winter Conference, Oak Ridge, TN, February 12, 2010. “Bullying
in the Elementary School”
TTU/TECTA RSCC-Oak Ridge Winter Conference, Oak Ridge, TN, February 12, 2010. “Bringing
Social Studies to Life!”
TTU IRA Literacy Council, Cookeville High School, Cookeville, TN, June 3, 2010.
“Cyberbullying”
TTU IRA Literacy Council, Cookeville High School, Cookeville, TN, June 3, 2010. “Good grief,
it’s grammar!”
Tn Association for Middle Schools, Sevierville, TN, June 16, 2010. “Developing Empathy
through Teamwork”
Tn Association for Middle Schools, Sevierville, TN, June 16, 2010. “Bringing Social Studies to
Life!”
National Rural Educators Association Conference, Branson, MO, Oct 16 “Cyberbullying”
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Participated in conferences, classes, and other professional development
Tennessee Math Teachers Association Conference, Brentwood, Tennessee 2005 – took my class
and gained reimbursement through the Dean’s office for all students
Tennessee Association for Middle Schools, Gatlinburg, 2006
Qualitative Research Methods Class – Fall, 2006 taught by Dr. Larimore
National Middle Schools Association Conference, Nashville, 2006
Tennessee State Math Conference, Knoxville, 2007 – took 2/3 of my Math methods class
National Rural Educators Association Conference– Oklahoma City, 2007
National Science Teachers Association, Regional Conference – Birmingham, Dec 2007–
attended with 19 of 21 students in Science methods class
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Research Interests
Bullying in or out of schools, effectively developing practices to target bullying behaviors,
empathy building, teambuilding in school systems, needs of student teachers in becoming more
effective teachers
SERVICE
Active in the Tullahoma community at Covenant Presbyterian Church and at First Baptist Church.
Academic Auditor for TBR programs
Task force looking at alternatives to INSL master’s/specialist’s degree programs
121 different teachers (8 new teachers this year) in 28 different schools = lots of TTU
presence in the Tullahoma area!
Continue to establish firm relationships with educators in local schools
Beginning relationship with new district through a formal contract with TTU. (in the works)
Consulted on Alaska Native culture with Holland America Education and with local social
studies teachers.
Conducted professional development workshop for TTC Hartsville instructors, April 28,
2010 “Teaching and Learning Styles”
ACTIVITIES: Tennessee Association of Middle Schools, Board Member
National Middle Schools Association, Member
American Association of Curriculum and Development, Member
Middle Tennessee Math Teachers
Tennessee Math Teachers Association, Member
National Rural Education Association, Member
Tennessee Council for the Social Studies, Member
Student Teacher Education Association, Motlow Chapter, Co-Chair
American Association of University Women
TTU International Reading Association
TN International Reading Association
American Association of School Administrators, Member (former)
Alaska Association of School Administrators, Member (former)
South East Regional Resource Center, Board Member – 2004-05 (former)
San Luis Valley Jr High/Middle School Principals’ Organization, President - 1999, 2000, 2001
San Luis Valley High School Principals’ Group, Member and Co-Founder (former)
Senate Bill 94 Committee, Board Member (former)
Colorado Online Consortium Advisory Board, Member (former)
National Association for Secondary School Principals, Member (former)
Colorado Association of School Executives, Member (former)
Colorado Council of Teachers of Math, Member (former)
Colorado Council of International Reading Association, Member (former)
Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals, Member (former)
Alaska Council of School Administrators, Member (former)
GRANTS:
2010 QEP Grant - $2500
Capitol Improvement Project Major Maintenance Grant - $598,000
Northwest Cruise Ship Tutorial Grant -$11,000
Fund for Colorado’s Future, after school and summer program – SASA, yr 1 - $79,600
Fund for Colorado’s Future, after school and summer program – SASA, yr 2 & 3 - $100,000
Quantum Learning Professional Development Grant, $10,000
Service Learning Curriculum Planning Grant, $1,000
Service Learning Curriculum Implementation Grant, $17,325
Wolf Creek Grant, Verbal Judo Professional Development, $2,000
Wolf Creek Grant, Colorado Outward Bound School, Teamwork, $2,000
Wolf Creek Grant, Step Up to Writing Professional Development, $2,000
American Lung Association, Education Awareness Grant, $300
HONORS:
Guest of Colorado Governor Bill Owens, State of the State Address, 2001 (recognized for
developing a successful after school program for middle school students)
Governor’s Award for Distinguished Improvement, Jr High School, 2001 (received award for
greatest possible improvement of state test scores from one year to the next)
Governor’s Award for Distinguished Improvement, High School, 2001 (received award for
greatest possible improvement of state test scores from one year to the next)
2004 – 2005
Superintendent/Principal, Yakutat School District, Yakutat, Alaska.
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2003 – 2004
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Initiated Capitol Improvement Project Major Maintenance Grant for $598 K to re-roof
Elementary School and remediate mold problem.
Negotiated Head Start food service contract.
Oversaw renovation of high school and construction of new ADA compliant bathrooms.
Partnered successfully with law enforcement to use surveillance equipment in reducing vandalism
and break-ins on campus.
Updated Strategic Plan and Board Policies.
Supervised District Technology Plan Re-write.
K-12 Principal, Yakutat School District, Yakutat, Alaska.
Originated “No Trouble No Tardies” positive incentive program.
Stabilized academic and work environment.
Acted as Athletic Director and Career and Technical Coordinator
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1997 – 2003
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Prepared reports to ensure district received appropriate funding relative to grants.
Participated in Indian Education Parent Committee and Healthy Community Coalition.
Created opportunities for college credit for teachers during professional development.
Wrote successful proposal to Northwest Cruise Lines for $11,000 for an athletic tutorial program.
Implemented K-8 Direct Instruction Reading program.
Presented at Alaska State Student Government Conference on “Student Fundraising” in
Yakutat, Alaska
Jr/Sr High School Principal, Sierra Grande Jr/Sr High School, Blanca, Colorado.
Initiated development of 14 extracurricular academic and athletic programs. Established three
vocational education programs. Wrote job descriptions and secured funding.
Developed 23 new curricular courses for the high school and middle school.
Fostered learning environment for teachers by bringing 15 research based professional
development programs and sustaining them over time.
Reduced discipline problems by 66% within first year.
Lead the district in earning accreditation through the North Central Association.
Forged relationships with local colleges enhancing concurrent education programs so students
could graduate with a junior college certificate or enter college with credit already completed.
Created “Caught Being Good” Program.
Turned losing high school athletic programs into winning programs.
Maintained positive relationships with the media and community.
Instituted cross curricular interdisciplinary units once a year across grade levels.
Collaboratively worked with teachers and students to create profitable fundraisers.
Prevented litigation by being proactive on legal matters.
Improved nationally standardized Terra Nova Achievement test scores from an average
growth gain of 3 months per year to 1.3 years for each year and sustained the average for the
last 5 years. Established databases to track student growth on standards.
Lead junior high and high school to receive highest score possible, “Significant Improvement”,
of five scores possible the first year of improvement scores on State Accountability Reports.
Wrote, received, and administered budget of $179,600 grant from the Fund for Colorado’s
Future enabling creation of Significant After School Activities (SASA) and summer program for
middle school students.
Presented to Sierra Grande School Board on “Trends in Student Achievement within Sierra
Grande School District over the Past Twelve Years”, 2001
Presented to Governor’s Office, State of Colorado, on “Trends in Student Achievement
within Sierra Grande School District over the Past Twelve Years” plus additional information,
2002
Secured 9 grants totaling over $ 214,000 dollars providing professional development, after
school and summer programming, education awareness campaigns, curricular offerings, and
teambuilding activities. Worked extensively in idea formation, budget monitoring, personnel,
curriculum implementation, and professional development on other grants within district.
1996 – 1997 Assistant Principal, Sierra Grande School, K-12, Blanca, Colorado. Assisted with all activities,
including student discipline, teacher evaluation, and extracurriculars. Created Friday School as an
alternative to out of school suspension. Implemented and chaperoned positive incentive field trips for
students who maintained good behavior, attendance, passing grades, and timeliness. Acted as liaison
between community and school on Accountability Committee.
1993 - 1996 Research assistant in department of Educational Leadership and Research, (full scholarship and
stipend), University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Presented paper “To Market, To
Market: Looking at Using Market Research in Public Education” at 1995 Southwest Educational Research
Association Conference, Dallas, Texas.
1990 – 1993 English Teacher, Jackson Public Schools, Jackson, Mississippi. Taught advanced, regular, and
remedial levels in large inner-city school. Co-chaired Senior Enrichment Program. Helped organize and
implement study program for Functional Literacy Examination resulting in most improved scores in the
district. Volunteered and assisted with varsity soccer and tennis programs. Represented Provine at the
Advanced Placement Institute.
1988 – 1989 Summer Counselor at YWCA, Jackson, Mississippi. Planned and lead activities for elementary and
middle school children.
1987
Summer Volunteer, House of Neighborly Service, San Antonio, Texas. Played games and lead activities
with underprivileged children and tutored Nicaraguan physician in English.
REFERENCES:
Mr. Robert Rael
Superintendent (retired)
Sierra Grande School District
Dr. Lana Clauss
Associate Professor
Tennessee Tech University
Dr. Johnny Purvis
Professor
Univ of Central Arkansas
231Shadow Wood Drive
Alamosa, CO
Cell (719) 480-3568
Hm (719) 589-5502
P.O. Box 5072
Cookeville, TN 38505
Wk (931) 372-3181
Cell (931)265-4226
3104 Dogwood Trail
Conway, AR 72032
Wk (501) 450-5258
Hm (501) 327-5188
lclauss@tntech.edu
JPurvis@mail.uca.edu
Mrs. Charle Coffey
Director of Academic Services
Motlow State Community College
P.O. 8500
Lynchburg, TN 37352
Wk (931)393-1696
ccoffey@mscc.edu
Ms. Brenda Cannon
Director of Community Relations
Motlow State Community College
P.O. Box 8500
Lynchburg, TN 37353
Wk (931) 393-1548
bcannon@mscc.edu