Cathy A. Thorsen Ed.D.
432 Roosevelt Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54701
708.217.0370
Thorseca@UWEC.edu
EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION& TRAINING
Illinois Standard Early Childhood Education (Birth through 3rd Grade)
Approved State Program: Early Childhood Education
Illinois Early Childhood (0-8)
Illinois Standard Elementary (K-9)
Endorsements:
Educable Mentally Handicapped (Preschool-9)
Physically Handicapped (Preschool-9)
Trainable Mentally Handicapped (Preschool-9)
Illinois Standard Secondary (6-12)
Approved State Program: Trainable Mentally Handicapped
Endorsements:
Educable Mentally Handicapped (6-21)
Physically Handicapped (6-21)
Trainable Mentally Handicapped (6-21)
Coursework in Learning disabilities
Assessment of Students with Learning disabilities
Methods for Students with LD
Characteristics of Learning Disabilities
Autism Training
Structured Teaching
Direct Instruction
Discrete Trial Training
Summer Autism Institute
Council of Adult & Experiential Learning
Certificate of Professional Achievement as a Prior Learning Assessor
Certificate of Mastery in Prior Learning Assessment
EDUCATIONAL AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
1995 F. H. Matthiessen Academic & Civic Achievement Award, Illinois Valley Community College
1996 Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship; Illinois State University
1997 Donna Lewis College of Education Scholarship; Illinois State University
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EDUCATION
2009.
Ed. D. Early Childhood Education, Concordia University, Chicago, IL
Doctoral Work completed
Independent Study in Childhood Spirituality
Teaching Math & Science in ECE
Beginning Reading Instruction
Assessment Techniques
School Evaluation & Change
Early Childhood Assessment
Creative Process in ECE
Resources & Strategies of Early Childhood
Socialization Processes
Parental Involvement
Resources & Strategies in Early Childhood Education
History of Early Childhood Education
History & Culture of Education
Quantitative Statistics
Qualitative Analysis
Research Design
Ways of Knowing
Advanced Learning Theories
Field Work in Early Childhood Education
Field Work in Early Childhood Leadership
Dissertation: Working title: Building the Fence: A Validity Study of the Recognition and
Response Observation & Rating Scale (RRORS)
Defended February 16, 2009
2002
2001
1997
Certificate of Mastery in Prior Learning Assessment, Council for Adult and Experiential
Learning; DePaul University
M.S., Education – Specialization in Special Education, Illinois State University
B.S., Education-Specialization in Special Education, Illinois State University
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
2008-
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Assistant Professor: College of Education and Human Sciences
Department of Special Education
Courses Taught:
 Measurement in Early Childhood Special Education
 Introduction to Special Education: Early Childhood
 Field Work in General Education
 Creative Activities for the Developmentally Young
 Intervention with Atypical Infants and Toddlers
 Methods in Early Childhood Special Education
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Faculty Responsibilities:
 Thesis Committee Member: Kristina Hesse
 Thesis Committee Member: Lynn Martin
 Committee Member for RtI and Culturally Congruent Pedagogy Grant
 Program Coordinator: Early Childhood Special Education
 Student Teaching Supervisor
 Early Childhood Special Education Faculty Advisor
 Special Education Admissions Committee member
 Teacher Education Advisory Committee member
 College Academic Curriculum Committee (CACC) member
2006-2008
Concordia University Chicago
Assistant Professor: College of Education
Focus Areas: Special Education & Early Childhood Education
Courses Taught:
 Educational Measurement of Exceptional Learners
 Parental Involvement (Graduate Level)
 Systems for Integrating Exceptional Learners in the Classroom & Society
 Collaborative Educational Relationships with Families and Professionals
 Classroom Management & Learning Environments for Special Education
 Student Teacher University Supervisor
 Instructional Strategies for Students with Academic & Physical Challenges
Faculty Responsibilities Include:
 Special Education Program Coordinator
 NCATE Spa Chair: Special Education
 Developing CEC Spa Assessments and rubrics
 NCATE Standard 4 Committee
 Faculty Advisor: Special Education and Early Childhood Education
(undergraduate)
 Faculty Search Committee Chair: Special Education
 Faculty Search Committee: Early Childhood Education
 Special Education Curriculum & Pedagogy Course coordinator (Graduate)
 Special Education Adjunct Faculty recruitment and mentoring
 Candidate Portfolio Development (LiveText template creation for special
education)
 Candidate Portfolio evaluation (checkpoints 2 & 3)
 Graduate Capstone comprehensive exam committee (Thanh Trieu & Joann Doiter)
2000-2006
(2003-2006)
Lincoln Christian University
Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education
Director of Early Childhood Education & Children’s Ministry Programs, Lincoln Christian
College and Seminary
Courses Developed and Taught:
 Introduction to Early Childhood Education
 Educational Psychology
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Care of Infants and Toddlers
Child Growth and Development
Early Childhood Practicum
Survey of the Exceptional Child
Learning, Environments, and Assessment
Child, Family, & Community Education
Early Childhood Education Internship (Faculty &
Field Mentor)
Faculty Responsibilities include:
 Curriculum Development for Early Childhood Education program and the Associate of
Arts in Early Childhood
 LiveText Portfolio Template Creation and updating
 Adjunct recruiting and training
 Creation of school and community partnerships for field experiences
 Resource selection for library holdings for Early Childhood program
 Advising Teacher Education Candidates
 Week of Evangelism mission trip leader
 Spiritual Formation Group leader
 Honors Degree Committee member
 Mentor new ECE instructors and candidates
(2000-2003) Director of Student Services for LincUp/Special Instructor, Lincoln Christian College and
Seminary
 Academic advisor for all LincUp students (128 students)
 Direct the Credit for Prior Learning process
 Develop individual education plans for degree completion students
 Actively recruit and retain adult students
 Planning and implementation of comprehensive marketing strategy
 Supervision and training of staff
 Special Instructor:
Methods of Teaching
Survey of Exceptional Children
Portfolio Development for CPL
Learning Resource coordinator and provider for LincUp
1997-2000
Streator Elementary School District #44
Special Education Teacher: Primary Special Education for students from 5-8 years of age
 Curriculum design and implementation for students with moderate to severe
disabilities
 Supervision and planning of daily duties for 5 full-time para-professionals
 Scheduling
 Data collection and individual assessment
 Preparation of Individualized Education Plans for students based on evaluation and
team input
 Member of the Autism task force
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Summer 1997 United Cerebral Palsy, Joliet, IL
Special Education Teacher: Early childhood classroom-students from 5-9 years of age.
 Assessment of abilities and areas of needed growth for program development
 Implement Individualized Educational Plans for students with severe and profound
disabilities
 Deliver personal care, occupational and physical therapy procedures, and instruction
to students
 Data collection and documentation of progress toward goals for each student
 Staff training and management
SCHOLARSHIP AND PROFESSIONALLY RELATED ACTIVITIES
Scholarly Writings, Presentations, and Publications:
 International DEC Conference presentation Meeting the IEP Goals of Young Children using the
Project Approach
 RtI/CCP Grant Professional In-service for Eau Claire Area School District personnel
 Illinois Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development Newsletter Preschool RtI:
Earlier Intervening with Recognition & Response
 Silver Lake College Spring Tonic Conference Meeting the Needs of Children with Exceptional
Learning Needs Using eth Project Approach in Inclusive Settings
 Concordia University Collaborative School Mini-Conference Rediscovering Teaching Ingenuity
through RtI
 Concordia University Chicago Early Childhood Conference presenter Meeting the Needs of
Students with Exceptional Learning Needs using the Project Approach
 KidFaith Conference Presenter Involving Faith Communities (June 2006)
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Accepted Proposal for NAEYC National Conference in Atlanta Family involvement in faith-based
programs: Promoting children's spiritual development through fun, engaging, and practical
activities
 NAEYC Co-presenter with Dr. Shirley Morgenthaler and Dr. Nancy Lass Applying Principles of
Brain Development in the Faith-Based Early Childhood Classroom (December 05)
 Evidence of Reggio Emilia in Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP): An Historical and
Philosophical Assessment of Reggio Schools & Review of Contemporary Implications and
Practice
 ABA Instructional Techniques: A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Techniques used to Instruct
Students with Autism and Down Syndrome
 Lincoln Christian College Philosophy of Credit for Prior Learning
 LCC Institutional Standards for Assessment of Credit for Prior Learning
 LiveText Candidate Portfolio templates at Lincoln Christian College
 Lincoln Christian College Early Childhood Education ISBE Program Report
Conference Attendance and Professional Development:
 Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards Training
 UW System LDTC Conference The Artistry of Engagement: Reaching Learners in the Age of
Technology
 Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early
Childhood (DC: 0-3R) facilitated by Zero to Three
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Intersecting Interests Wisconsin Head Start Collaborative with Higher Education(January 09)
Wisconsin Reading Association RtI Workshop (October 08)
ITED Faculty seminar on integrating RTI into teacher preparation programs (June 07)
Council for Exceptional Children Pre-session RTI Goes to Pre-K (April 07)
Illinois CEC Pre-session on Response to Intervention (November 2006)
Childhood Spirituality Conference (June 06)
NAEYC Annual Conference (December 05)
NAEYC Accreditation Conference (NAEYC pre-session, December 05)
Chicago-Metro Area IAEYC Conference (January 2005)
NAPCE Conference (Orlando, FL; October 2004)
LiveText Electronic Portfolio training and conference (July 2003 and July 2004)
NCATE Chicago Area Training for program assessment (January 2004)
Illinois Education and Technology Conference (November 2003)
School-Wide Biblical Integration: ACSI One-Day Enabler (November 2003)
ACSI Early Childhood International Conference, Atlanta (November 2003)
Early Childhood Education Conference, Springfield (October 2003)
Principals and Practices for Early Childhood Education: ACSI One-Day Philosophy Enabler
(September 2003)
ISBE Assessment Conference, Fairview Heights, IL (August 2003)
ILCEC & ISBE Early Childhood Education Conference, Springfield (October 2003)
LCC Teacher Education Unit Strategic Planning and Action Planning (Spring 2003)
Hot Topics Guest Panel Speaker for The Women’s Conference at LCCS: The Need for Children’s
Ministers (April 2004)
School involvement and projects:
 RtI and Culturally Congruent Pedagogy Conference planning in Collaboration with the Eau Claire
Area School District
 Illinois State Board of Education Teacher Education Unit Accreditation and Initial Program Approval
 Lincoln Christian College Teacher Education Advisory Committee
 Lincoln Christian College Teacher Education Unit Strategic Planning
 Honors Program Committee: Lincoln Christian College and Seminary
 Credit for Prior Learning Faculty Evaluator
 Co-Organizer of Teacher Education Colloquy
 Co-Organizer of the Christian Teacher Symposium
Civic:
 Breakthrough Ministries Homeless Shelter meal preparation and serving (Chicago)
 Best Buddies Program Faculty Advisor (Lincoln Christian University)
 HandiCamp Coordinator and Facilitator
 Foreign Exchange Student Host
Memberships:
 Wisconsin Reading Association (WSRA)
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Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
 Division of Early Childhood
 Teacher Education Division
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
American Educational Research Association (AERA)
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
REFERENCES
Dr. Dara Soljaga
7400 Augusta St.
College of Education
Concordia University Chicago
River Forest, IL 60305
708.209.3348
Dara.soljaga@cuc.edu
Pamela Konkol
7400 Augusta St.
College of Education
Concordia University Chicago
River Forest, IL 60305
708.209.3540
pamela.konkol@cuchicago.edu
Tamara Doig
5904 W. Race Ave.
Chicago, IL 60644
773.379.6709 (home)
312.296.6709 (cell)
tbrooksdoig@aol.com
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