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Cathy Smeltzer Erb

POSITION: Professor of Teacher Education; Director - Academic Success Center

DEPARTMENTS:
School of Social Sciences and Professions
Academic Success Center

LOCATION: Main Campus, Harrisonburg | LB 313

PHONE: (540) 432-4638

EMAIL: cathy.smeltzererb@emu.edu

Cathy Smeltzer Erb is director of the academic success center and professor of teacher education. Previously she served as director of the undergraduate teacher education program and Jesse T. Byler Endowed Chair. 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 restorative justice pedagogy, equitable instruction, teacher development, the emotional dimension of beginning teaching, the calling to teach, and self-care for teachers. 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
    • Smeltzer Erb, C. & Evans, K. Pedagogical Practices for RJ Educators, Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, June 28, 2023.
    • Evans, K. & Smeltzer Erb, C. A Framework for Restorative Justice Pedagogies, AACTE Conference, Indianapolis, IN, February 24, 2023.
    • Evans, K. & Smeltzer Erb, C. Restorative Justice as a Pedagogical Practice, Mennonite Educators Conference, Leesburg, VA, February 3, 2023.
    • Frederick, S., Smeltzer Erb, C., Jones, G., Bailey, P. (2022). Small EPPs reflect on CAEP accreditation. VACTE ((Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) Fall Conference, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA, October 13-14, 2022.
    • 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.
  • Church, Community and Professional Service
    • Gifts Discernment Team, Shalom Mennonite Congregation, 2023-present.
    • Board Member, Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, PA, 2015-present.
    • Congregational Chair, Shalom Mennonite Congregation, 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.
  • Honors, Awards and Grants
    • Jesse T. Byler Endowed Chair, 2016-2023.
    • 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
    • Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD)
    • 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 27-28, 2023.
    • AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) Conference, Indianapolis, IN, February 23-25, 2023.
    • Mennonite Educators Conference, Leesburg, VA, February 2-4, 2023.
    • VACTE (Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) Fall Conference, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA, October 13-14, 2022.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
    • Committee on Teaching and Learning
    • Faculty Status Committee
    • Academic Review Committee
    • Academic Accountability Representative
    • Presented Emotions and Self-Care in Teaching, ED411 Reflective Teaching Seminar, December 6, 2022
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