Email: szlizewski@wcu.edu
Phone: 828.227-3776
Office Address: Killian 226D

Date of Appointment: 2006

Education:

• Ph.D., Miami University in Oxford, OH.
• B.S., M.A., and Ed.S., Ball State University, Muncie, IN.

Research Interests:

• Classroom time and organizational management; student behavioral issues; student retention and engagement with effective teaching and administration; and creating democratic classrooms.

Personal Statement:

I was born in Lubeck, Germany and came to the US when I was 3. I became a US citizen when I was 10. I grew up, mostly on dairy farms, in upstate New York, enlisted in the Navy, and spent my 29 year public school career in Indiana and Ohio as an elementary and middle school teacher, middle school and high school principal, and school district superintendent.

I have always been a strong student advocate, regardless of age, and I believe that giving students the best education we can is the best service we can provide and that education is the most important occupation we have in a society.

I have moved from teaching in both inner-city and rural schools to working with teachers and administrators at the university. My only goal is to make a contribution to the improvement of the educational process that will truly help all students become as successful as possible.

I took early retirement so that I could pursue my interests in teaching.  I feel fortunate and excited that I have this opportunity, at Western, to do just that.