|
|
Chaffin Named to Budig Professorship in Special Education
Jerry Chaffin joined the Department of Special Education in 1968. In Chaffin’s nomination, one colleague wrote: “It cannot be said of many people that he or she changed how educators do business. Jerry Chaffin did just that. Through his commitment to education, his vision of how technology could be incorporated in instruction, and his desire to affect children’s learning, Jerry Chaffin is responsible for changing the face of teacher training at The University of Kansas.” The colleague goes on: “He bought the very first Apple computer and brought it to his office. He shared his passion…by grabbing people in the hall and saying ‘you have to see what this can do!’ …When people couldn’t see the potential, he hired students to develop educational software for the machines so that everyone in the department could see their relevance.” Many colleagues cited his creativity and visionary thinking. His technological innovations have enriched not only students and teachers but also “facilitated the entire faculty’s professional growth and implementation efforts.” He is called “the consummate researcher-practitioner; his scholarship informs and enhances this teaching performance.” A former student wrote “…he is a truly remarkable human being. His good nature, sense of humor and positive outlook has enabled him to be a rare civic professional…to blend creativity, enthusiasm for learning, and task commitment with sincerity, genuineness, caring and kindness.” And another “the greatest gift that Dr. Chaffin provided his students was the ability to think beyond the textbook, work to maximize learning opportunities for every learner, chart a course intending excellence for all and to lead unselfishly with the heart.” Past recipients of the Gene A.Budig Teaching Professor in Special Education Award are: Dr. Tom Skrtic (2005-2006), Professor H. Rutherford Turnbull, III ( 2004-2005), Dr. Ed Meyen (2003-2004), and Dr. Gary Clark (2002-2003). |
Tools  Email Page Print Page
Contact Special Education Joseph R. Pearson Hall, Rm. 521 1122 West Campus Rd. University of Kansas Lawrence, KS 66045 3101 phone: (785) 864-0556 Related Info New Center at KU to Test Alternative to Traditional Special Education Programs |
|
| Click here to return to this issue. Click here to go to the Special Education Connection homepage. Copyright © 2006 by the University of Kansas |
||
