Joan Nielsen, associate professor of education and project manager of Project Proficient, and LuAnn Haase, associate professor and chair of education and director of the Teacher Intern Program, recently gave a presentation at the Iowa Culture and Language Conference in Coralville, Iowa.

LuAnn Haase	Joan Nielsen

Joan Nielsen, associate professor of education and project manager of Project Proficient at Morningside College, and LuAnn Haase, associate professor and chair of education and director of the Teacher Intern Program at Morningside, recently gave a presentation at the Iowa Culture and Language Conference in Coralville, Iowa.

“Does Earning an ESL Endorsement Change Classroom Teaching?” examined data gathered during classroom observations of teachers taking coursework for an English as a Second Language endorsement through the Project Proficient grant.

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

“Our data clearly indicates that teachers who take our coursework and earn the ESL endorsement change instructional practice to include more research-based strategies and behaviors that have been proven to positively impact K-12 student learning,” Haase said.

Nielsen has been with Morningside College since 2001. Prior to that time, she worked at the Battle Creek and BCIG schools as an instructor, curriculum director and elementary principal. She received her master’s degree and education specialist certificate from Drake University.

Haase joined the faculty in 2011 after serving as director of elementary education, secondary education, K-12 curriculum, K-12 guidance and counseling, and professional development for the Sioux City Community Schools. Haase has over 30 years of experience in education in such roles as teacher, guidance counselor, special education coordinator and principal. She has a doctorate from the University of Nebraska.