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Cathy Smeltzer Erb

POSITION: Professor; Program Director - Education

DEPARTMENT: Education

LOCATION: Main Campus, Harrisonburg | LB 313

PHONE: (540) 432-4638

EMAIL: cathy.smeltzererb@emu.edu

Cathy Smeltzer Erb is director of undergraduate teacher education program, Jesse T. Byler Endowed Chair, and professor of teacher education. Cathy earned a Ph.D. and M.Ed. in curriculum studies from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT), and a B.S. in secondary education from Eastern Mennonite University. Prior to entering teacher education, Dr. Smeltzer Erb spent over 15 years as a middle and high school family studies teacher and guidance counselor in Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. She teaches undergraduate curriculum and methods courses with an emphasis on engaged and equitable classroom environments. She has provided consultation services to pre-service, in-service, and university faculty in the U.S., Canada, Indonesia, and Vietnam in the areas of teacher development, beginning teacher induction, curriculum development, instructional approaches, and action research. Publications and research presentations at local, national, and international conferences have explored the emotional dimension of beginning teaching, teacher development, the calling to teach, equitable instruction, self-care for teachers, and restorative justice in education pedagogy. Cathy is an AILACTE Scholar Award recipient.

Education

BS, Eastern Mennonite University (Education)
MED, University of Toronto (Education)
PHD, University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (Education)

  • Publications

    Smeltzer Erb, C. (2019). A journey of the self: “Be” who you are. In Andrew Kemp (Ed.), The Dignity of the Calling: Educators Share the Beginnings of Their Journeys. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.

    Smeltzer Erb, C., & Erb, P. (2018). Making Amends: A restorative justice approach to classroom behavior. The Teacher Educators Journal, 11, 91-104.

    Smeltzer Erb, C. (2010). The power of “we” language in creating equitable learning environments. AILACTE Journal (The Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education), 7(1), 83-91.

  • Scholarly Presentations and Abstracts
    • Evans, K., & Smeltzer Erb, C. Pedagogical Practices for RJ Educators, Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, June 29, 2022.
    • Evans, K., & Smeltzer Erb, C. Pedagogical Practices for RJ Educators, Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, June 22, 2021.
    • Smeltzer Erb, C., & Evans, K. Restorative Justice in Education as Pedagogical Practice, Graduate Teacher Education Webinar, Eastern Mennonite University, June 2, 2021.
    • Smeltzer Erb, C. Creating space for beginning teachers’ professional growth alongside improving teacher preparation. Presentation at the VACTE/ATE-VA (Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education/Association of Teacher Educators-VA) Fall Conference, Roanoke, VA, October 5-6, 2017.
    • Smeltzer Erb, C. A journey of the self: “Be” who you are. Paper presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL, April 19, 2015.
    • Smeltzer Erb, C. Dignity of the calling: Teacher educators share the beginnings of the journeys. Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Teacher Educators, Phoenix, AZ, February 15, 2015.
  • Church, Community and Professional Service
    • Congregational Chair, Shalom Mennonite Congregations, 2021.
    • Administrative Council Member, Shalom Mennonite Congregation, 2020.
    • Co-Chair MidValley Consortium Advisory Council, 2017-2019.
    • Participated in Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Report Review, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, February 6, 2018.
    • Board Member, Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, PA, 2015-present.
    • Resource Team Member/Cohort Leader, Values Based Leadership Program, Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, PA, 2012-2017.
    • Consultation, VDOE/CAEP Agreement Focus Group, Richmond, VA, May 26, 2015.
    • In-service workshop, Chunk and Dump: Using Formative Assessment Strategies to Facilitate Long-Term Learning, Plains Elementary School Faculty, Rockingham County Public Schools, Harrisonburg, Virginia, January 16, 2015.
  • Honors, Awards and Grants
    • Jesse T. Byler Endowed Chair
    • Mennonite Education Agency, Fund for Peoplehood Education grant, Supporting Beginning Teachers, $2,000.
    • AILACTE (Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education) Scholar Award, Moral emotions of beginning teaching, 2004.
  • Certifications and Licenses
    • Virginia Postgraduate Professional License
    • Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR I)
  • Professional Memberships
    • POD Network: Professional and Organizational Development
    • American Educational Research Association (AERA)
      AERA Division K: Teaching and Teacher Education
    • American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE)
    • Virginia Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (VACTE)
    • Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education (AILACTE)
  • Professional Conferences Attended
    • Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, June 28-29, 2022.
    • VACTE (Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) Spring Conference (Virtual), April 28-29, 2022.
    • VACTE (Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) Fall Conference (Virtual), November 11-12, 2021.
    • CAEP Con Fall 2021 General Session, Virtual, October 7, 2021.
    • Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, June 22-23, 2021.
    • Self-Interrogation and Syllabus Analysis Workshop, Eastern Mennonite University, June 4, 2021.
    • Curriculum Development Institute, Goshen College, Virtual, May 25-28, 2021.
    • Virginia Education Assessment Collaborative (VEAC) Spring Mini Conference (Virtual), May 5-6, 2021.
    • VACTE/ATE-VA (Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education/Association of Teacher Educators-VA) Spring Conference (Virtual), March 18-19, 2021.
    • Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education (AILACTE) Virtual Conference, A Call for Action: Surviving, Thriving, and Reimaging the Preparation of Teachers. February 24-26, 2021.
    • American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) Annual Meeting, Resisting Hate, Restoring Hope: Engaging in Courageous Action, Virtual Conference, February 24-26, 2021.
  • EMU Service
    • Presented Emotions and Self-Care in Teaching, ED411 Reflective Teaching Seminar, December 7, 2021 and April 26, 2022.
    • Director, Undergraduate Teacher Education
    • Co-chair, Committee on Teacher Education
    • Co-chair, Teacher Education Admissions Committee
    • Co-chair, Assessment Committee
    • CAEP Coordinator
    • Faculty Status Committee
    • Committee on Teaching and Learning
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