Autobiography

• Early Childhood Training Specialist and Outreach Planning & Development Coordinator for the Educational Technology Satellite Demonstration Project, Rocky Mountain Federation of States, Denver, Colorado

• Interim Director of the Diagnostic Learning Center, St. Paul Public Schools, St. Paul, Minnesota

• Speech Therapist for the Head Start Program and Speech Therapist for children classified as multi-handicapped & mentally retarded for the St. Paul Public Schools, St. Paul, Minnesota.

My educational background includes:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech Correction, University of Wisconsin-River Falls (1964)

• Master of Arts Degree in Special Education, University of Missouri-Columbia (1970)

• Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Special Education and Early Childhood Education, University of Missouri-Columbia (1972)

My interest has been in the education of young children at-risk for failure in school and children with disabilities, effective services for all children, and the preparation of teachers to serve these children and their families. It seemed that in the 1950’s, teacher education programs were not valued and their importance was belittled. My positive experiences in Scouting, the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps, and work in physical rehabilitation focused my interest on what might be done to improve the effectiveness and the public perception of teacher preparation. Robust teacher preparation became and remains my passion.

While serving as the Interim Director of the St. Paul, Minnesota Public Schools’ Diagnostic Learning Center (1968), I enrolled in my first special education course at the University of Minnesota. I decided to commit my professional career to early childhood education as a result of a presentation by John Rynders, a graduate assistant, who went on to teach at the University of Wisconsin - Stout. In his presentation, Dr. Rynders described the positive results of the Milwaukee Project and the promise associated with early education. Hearing of the possibility for children to succeed in school was clearly the inspiration for my career.

I believe that when children fail in school, teachers have failed; and when teachers have failed, teacher preparation has failed. I realize this is an over-simplification of a complex issue. However, I also believe that many of the obstacles to children’s learning can be minimized by skilled teachers. I have come to respect the idea that “professional competence is never an absolute achievement, but is rather something in the nature of a lasting commitment” (Author Unknown). I have been motivated by the belief that teacher preparation can be improved and fortunate to have had the opportunity to address this challenge. The proof is in the pudding, so they say. From my viewpoint, the many skilled and enthusiastic graduates from our programs, who have earned respect in our field, have demonstrated the effectiveness of our teacher education practices.

Note: Children like Steve, several Peters, Mary, Barry, Billy, Janet, Ryan and Renee peaked my interest and taught me much, as did their parents, care providers, teachers, and therapists. I have also learned from the patients at the U.S. Naval Hospital, like Jennifer, Chief Weikart, Seaman Worker, and Sargent Zimba, and the students enrolled in our teacher education programs. For their insights, trust, and patience, I am grateful.

Highlights in my 30-plus year career in teacher education/training include: ~ Development of innovative and highly effective undergraduate and graduate pre-service and continuing teacher education programs at the University of Wisconsin campuses at Whitewater and Eau Claire; ~ The State’s development of criterion-based Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) teacher training and certification; ~ The development of the Wisconsin Division on Early Childhood (WDEC); ~ Documentation of ethnic disparity in special education programs; ~ Promotion of across-disciplinary training; and ~ Other collaborative projects with colleagues across the State.

Other personal highlights include: ~ Originator and principle investigator of the Wisconsin Committee on Early Childhood for the Handicapped (1973); ~ Developer and advocate for the adoption of the State’s ECSE teacher certification (1970’s); ~ Member of the team that developed and implemented the State’s Birth-to-3 services (1980’s); ~ A principal investigator of the Impact of a Developmental Disability Category on Service Delivery in the State; ~ Team member on the design and research related to the effectiveness of preschool placement options (1990’s); ~ Writer of several state and federal grants; and ~ Developer of a variety of service delivery, curricular and instruction practices.

Service: ~ As part of my active role in WDEC, I served two terms as the division’s president; served on many committees and boards; hosted several State conferences; and served as a consultant to local, state and national groups and agencies. ~ In addition to my role as Coordinator of and instructor in the ECSE teacher training programs at UW-Whitewater and UW-Eau Claire, I served on the Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Advisory Council; the Eau Claire Area Development and Training Center Board; Eau Claire School District Strategic Planning; and Four Year Old Kindergarten planning committees.

Recognition by my associates for work in the education of children at-risk for failure in school and children with disabilities includes: ~ WDEC Outstanding Service Award for contributions to ECSE, Council for Exceptional Children Division on Early Childhood (1978); ~ WDEC Life Time Achievement Award (1999); ~ First annual Victor Contrucci Service Award from the Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities; ~ Distinguished Service Award from the Eau Claire Association for Retarded Citizens; ~ recognition from the Eau Claire Area School District for 20 years of service to the education of young children who are at-risk or disabled (2000); ~ UW-Eau Claire’s College of Education nominee for the WDPI Outstanding Teacher Educator Award (1986); ~ Eau Claire Foundation’s Friends of Luther Children’s Legacy Award (2005); and ~ recognition from University of Wisconsin System as one of 100 faculty members from the System whose work best represented the "Wisconsin Idea".

David J. Franks Ph.D.
franksdj@uwec.edu
February 28, 2015

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