Dec. 22, 2011

Caroline Donaway	Joan Nielsen

Morningside College faculty and staff members present at education conference

Faculty and staff members who provide leadership for the Project Unlimited Proficiency (PUP) program at Morningside College were presenters recently at Iowa’s 26th Culture & Language Conference in Coralville, Iowa.

PUP is a federally-funded program at Morningside College where area teachers receive scholarships for courses to become certified to work with English Language Learners.

Joan Nielsen, associate professor of education and PUP director at Morningside College, gave a presentation at the education conference on a five-year collaboration where universities in multiple states used the same curriculum to assist teachers working with English Language Learners.

Caroline Donaway, PUP project manager at Morningside College, led an interactive session at the conference to strengthen the skills of those who face language barriers in their schools.

Nielsen has been with Morningside College since 2001. Prior to that time, she was employed by the Battle Creek Community and BCIG Community Schools as an instructor, curriculum director and elementary principal. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Upper Iowa University and both her master’s degree and education specialist certificate from Drake University.

Donaway came to Morningside College in 2009 after working for the Sioux City Community School District, where she was coordinator of the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Donaway has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, French and English from Briar Cliff University, and a master’s degree in elementary education from Morningside College.