School Of Education Continues Centennial Celebration Hosting Annual Maureen A. Hartigan Forum

February 25, 2009

Prominent Educators Prepare Prospective Teachers for Job Interviews

St. John’s School of Education, continuing their Centennial Celebration, hosted its annual Maureen A. Hartigan Forum last night at the University’s Queens Campus. Designed to provide St. John’s students with guidance, insight and practical interviewing skills as they embark upon their career in the field of education, the forum focuses on the skill of interviewing which has taken on more importance in a rapidly changing field.

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Jerrold Ross, Dean of the School of Education served as Moderator for the forum which featured a guest lecture from Dr. Mary Ellen Freeley, St. John’s Associate Professor in the Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership.
Dr. Freeley, a St. John’s alumnus (Ed.D. ’84), has authored numerous articles as an expert in the field of education. In addition to her role as Adjunct Professor at St. John’s, Dr. Freeley has also served as Past President of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) - the largest professional educational organization in the world with 190,000 members – and has served as Superintendent of Schools in Nassau County for 12 years.

“In this competitive job market, just remember that you have been extremely well prepared here at St. John’s School of Education and you stand head and shoulders above other candidates – you are ready to assume a position in the noblest profession – teaching,” said Dr. Freeley.

The forum focused on a number of strategies for a successful job search which included helpful tips on networking; obtaining interviews, interview skills, mock interviews conducted by successful St. John’s alumni, what to look for in an employment contract and what to expect in your first year of teaching. The 90-minute program format concluded with a lively question and answer session among students and alumni.

Recently celebrating its historic 100 years of service, the School of Education prides itself in “Preparing Visionary Educators” for the future. Its partnership with the Maureen A. Hartigan Forum also provides partial annual scholarship support to full-time undergraduate students.

The forum was established in 1988 by Anne Hartigan Flynn, Grace Hartigan Klinger and Catherine Hartigan McNicholl in memory of their sister Maureen A. Hartigan.

For more information contact Madeline Larsen, St. John’s School of Education at (718) 990-2577. For news and information regarding St. John’s visit the University web site at www.stjohns.edu/news.