Office of Learning
About the Office
The Office of Learning is responsible for the coordination of teacher education at Purdue, which is distributed across six colleges: Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, and Science. The Office oversees all undergraduate education in the College of Education as well as the initial teacher licensure programs and advanced educator licensure programs housed in, or affiliated with, the College of Education, including online programs. Essentially, the Office orchestrates the intersections of student academic support services such as advising and recruiting; clinical field experiences; program revision and development; state and national accreditation; and licensure for Purdue’s 17 undergraduate and 6 graduate educator preparation programs.
From the Associate Dean for Learning
There is no sugarcoating the fact that we live in challenging times; sociopolitical tensions are fracturing a planet figuratively and literally on fire, which inevitably affects the wellbeing of our Purdue students as well as their current and future P-12 students. I know it is challenging to hold on to hope in such a precarious climate (socially and ecologically speaking). However, I entreat you to consider that hope can be more than a thing that passively gets held. Rather, if we conceptualize hope as a verb–a deliberative action taken among people in relationship, working toward a common goal–it helps our collective effort to fight the good fight in serving our schools and communities. We in the College of Education firmly believe public education can and must play a key role in bettering our society for everyone. Along with Heather McGhee (2021), I do not accept the inevitability of the zero-sum game: the notion that, in order for some folks to benefit, other folks will have to give something up. As John F. Kennedy said in his elegant metaphor for economic prosperity: A rising tide lifts all boats. To that end, I want you to know that this Office sees you and supports your efforts to protect the future of our young people through education, offering you the same compassion and ethic of care we hope you will provide your students.
Please know that I have an open-door policy; I welcome productive dialogue on anything and everything related to teaching and learning in the field of educator preparation. Contact Mrs. Julie Correll (see below) to make an in-person or virtual appointment.
McGhee, H. (2021). The sum of us: What racism costs everyone and how we can prosper together. Random House.
Tara Star Johnson
Associate Dean for Learning
If This Office Could Speak in Quotes, It Would Say…
We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. This is no time for apathy or complacency.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Each time [someone] stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, [they] send forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
Robert F. Kennedy
Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you. I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability.
Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Joy is the ultimate goal of teaching and learning, not test prep or graduation. As an educator, (re)member to thrive, smile, heal, dance, and laugh. You carry genius and joy already within you.
Gholdy Muhammad
Idealism detached from action is just a dream. But idealism allied with pragmatism, with rolling up your sleeves and making the world bend a bit, is very exciting. It’s very real. It’s very strong.
Bono
Staff
Tara Star Johnson
Associate Dean for Learning
Email: tarastar@purdue.edu
Phone: 765-494-2702
Room: BRNG 3281G
Julie Correll
Assistant to the Associate Deans
Email: correllj@purdue.edu
Phone: 765-494-0019
Room: BRNG 3281A