Nancy Varian

Director, Center for Professional Development

Education:

2008    Ph.D.:  Curriculum & Instruction, University of Akron, Akron, OH Dissertation:  Beliefs and Instructional Practices of Culturally Relevant     Educators:  A Qualitative Case Study
1987    M.S.:  Elementary Administration, Ashland University, Ashland, OH
1976    M.S.:  Elementary Education, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS    
1974    B.S.:  Elementary Education & Library Science, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS

Experience

2005-current, Malone University; Director, Center for Professional Development, School of Education
Adjunct Faculty Member, Education Department
1998-2005, Sandy Valley Local School District, K-2 Elementary Principal, K-12 CD, Federal Programs Coordinator
1995-2000, Ashland University, Adjunct Faculty Member
1981-1999, Osnaburg Local School District, 3rd grade and Kindergarten teacher, Jr.-Sr. High Media Specialist    
1994-1995, Stark County Educational Service Center, Sabbatical through Christa McAuliffe Fellowship/ SEEDS project
1976-1981, National 4-H Council, Washington, D.C., Program Specialist for citizenship, leadership, and cultural exchange programs
1974-1976, Columbus, MS City Schools, 2nd and 3rd grade teacher

Recent Scholarly Work

2008,"Beliefs and Instructional Practices of Culturally Relevant Educators:  A Qualitative Case Study" Dissertation available by the University of Akron on Ohio Link
2006,"Humanity, Hope and the Human Spirit" Connections (biannual publication of the Milken Family Foundation, spring 2006 issue)
2005,"Magnolia Elementary, Where Teachers 'Put Reading First' Every Day" Ohio Reading Teacher (A Journal of the Ohio Council of the International  Reading Association), Volume XXXVII, Number 1, Fall 2005

Teaching Assignments

I teach Content Reading Strategies to undergraduates, for both early childhood middle/secondary educators. I teach teacher workshops and topics include; Framework for Understanding Poverty, Cultural Awareness, Children’s Literature and Grant Writing to name a few.

I live on a fourth generation family apple orchard with my husband and two sons and daughter-in-law. I love to travel and learn about other cultures.