Teacher of the Year finalist, author/education expert to speak at Thiel Education Summit

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College will host an Education Summit at 9:30 a.m. February 20, 2025, featuring two leading experts in the field of education.

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The summit is for working professionals as well as high school students who are considering teaching as a career path. The event will feature keynote presentations, interactive workshops for students, professional development sessions for educators, and a panel discussion with prominent educators. The featured speakers are Thomas R. Guskey, Ph.D. ’72 and Jennifer Toney, Ph.D., both distinguished figures in the education field.

Guskey is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. He has served as Department Chair, Head of the Educational Psychology Area Committee, and President of the Faculty Council. Over his career, Guskey has been a Visiting Professor at 10 universities in the United States and a Visiting Scholar at universities in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. He is a 1972 graduate of Thiel College.

Guskey began his career as a middle school teacher and later earned his doctorate in educational measurement and evaluation at the University of Chicago. He has authored or edited 30 books and more than 300 professional papers and articles, focusing on educational assessment and classroom effectiveness. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including being named a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association and receiving the Distinguished Contributions to the Field Award from Learning Forward. He continues to contribute to the field through initiatives like developing evaluation models for the Compassionate Coaches Program and engaging school leaders in grading reforms.

Toney, a third-grade English Language Arts teacher at Sharpsville Area Elementary School, is a 2025 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year finalist. With 18 years of teaching experience, Toney is known for creating interactive and meaningful learning experiences for her students. She earned her undergraduate degree at Gannon University and began her career teaching kindergarten at The Diocese of Erie's Msgr. Geno J. Monti School before joining the Sharpsville Area School District. Toney is an active leader in the education community, serving as the Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts Conference Director and as an ambassador for Remake Learning and TED-Ed. She emphasizes the importance of fostering a love for learning and empowering students to express themselves confidently.

Related Link

• Department of Education

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