Faculty

Field Experience Coordinator and Teacher Performance Assessment Coordinator
Assistant Professor of Education

Professor Franke places students in local schools for their two required field experiences, typically in their junior year (20 hours) and at the end of their academic program (40 hours). Teacher Performance Assessments happen in conjunction with the field experiences.

Professor Jackie Franke has been in the field of education for 24 years since she moved from Olathe, Kansas to Mission Viejo, CA with her husband and three children. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.

Professor Franke has been with Concordia’s Teacher Credential Program in the School of Education for five years and wears a couple of different hats. As TPA Coordinator, Professor Franke oversees all aspects of the California Teacher Performance Assessment, a state requirement for all teacher candidates to earn their preliminary credential. Professor Franke is also the Field Experience Coordinator and she places all teacher candidates in their two early field experiences. One of the joys of this position is visiting principals and teachers. During these visits, Professor Franke receives positive feedback on how well CUI candidates are prepared which in turn encourages partnerships with local schools and districts to mentor our teacher candidates.

Director of Student Teaching and Induction
Assistant Professor of Education

Dr. Hess guides students through the process to become a teacher from student teacher placement to a Clear Credential.

Dr. Teresa Hess leads the student teaching program, which is the final requirement before filing for a Preliminary credential. Additionally, she oversees the Induction Program where employed teachers may clear their credential with the state of California.

Dr. Hess holds a Ph.D. in Education, with an emphasis in Disability Studies, from Chapman University in Orange, CA, a Master of Science Degree from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. In addition to her work at the university level, Dr. Hess has over 30 years of elementary teaching experience in both general and special education classrooms.

Teaching Credentials and Certificates

• Ryan Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
• Learning Handicapped Credential
• Resource Specialist Credential
• Cross Cultural Language and Academic Development Certificate (CLAD)
• Autism Authorization Certificate

Co-Director of Undergraduate Teacher Credential Programs | Director of M.Ed. | Professor of Science Education

Prof. Michael Schulteis has been at Concordia University since 2003 teaching in the School of Education specializing in Science and Mathematics education as well as classroom management. His most recent interest is in taking students and teachers abroad to learn about educational opportunities in Asia having led trips to Australia, China, Hong Kong (SAR), and Vietnam. He currently serves as the Director of the Masters In Education (MEd) and Co-Director of Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs. Prior to arriving at Concordia University, he taught at the Junior High School level as a 7th-grade homeroom teacher teaching multiple subjects and as a science specialist for grades 6-8. At the High School level, Michael taught chemistry, biology, and honors biology as well as being a coach and the taxidermy club advisor. Most recently he taught Grade 8 Science for a year at Concordia International School in Shanghai, China along with his wife who taught Grade 5. Dr. Schulteis earned his Bachelor of Arts degree (Biology) in 1995, California Teaching Credential in 1996 and his Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction in 1998 all from Concordia University, Irvine. In 2005 he earned his Doctor of Science Education degree from Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia. His dissertation thesis was "The Condition and Effects of Evolutionary Education in the Parochial School." Beyond his teaching duties, Prof. Schulteis serves as a Faculty Marshal at the University. Dr. Schulteis is a mentor for the American Meteorological Society Datastreme program. He is also a sought after seminar presenter and has made presentations to teachers across the United States, as well as from around the world including teachers from Korea, Japan, China, South Africa, and Australia.

Dr. Schulteis is married and his wife also teaches at Concordia and is in the Mathematics Department. They have 2 boys. He enjoys travel, gardening, Disney, and fishing. He has the distinction of having visited every Disney Park in the world.

Education

• ScEdD, Doctor of Science Education, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia
• M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, Concordia University Irvine
• B.A., Biology, Concordia University Irvine

Areas of Expertise

• Science Education
• Quantitative Methods
• Action Research
• Lutheran Education
• International Teaching

Co-Director of Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs
Professor, Teacher Credential Program

Dr. Stanton teaches EDU 101, the first class all Liberal Studies majors will take; serves as an advisor to Liberal Studies majors; and interviews students for admission into the SOE Credential program.

Dr. Rebecca Stanton has been teaching in the School of Education at CUI since 2005, specializing in secondary teaching methods, classroom management, and differentiated instruction. Beyond her teaching duties, she supervises student teachers and guides students as they write their Masters capstone projects. As a university supervisor of student teachers and as a parent volunteer, she has spent innumerable hours in K-12 classrooms. Her sons' special needs have inspired her interest in how the brain learns and how to set up positive, inclusive learning environments. She presents on various teaching strategies at local, regional, and national conferences.

Prior to coming to Concordia University, Dr. Stanton taught German at the university and junior college levels. She also taught German and beginning drama for 9 years at the high school level, and math and science for one year at the junior high school level. She enjoyed taking students on educational trips to Europe and New York City.

Education

• EdD, Instructional Leadership, Argosy University, Orange County
• MA, German Literature, University of California, Irvine
• Teaching Credential, Single Subject (German, Literature), Concordia University Irvine
• BA, German major, Russian minor, University of Arizona

Areas of Expertise

• Teaching methods, including Differentiated Instruction and foreign language methods
• Mentoring new teachers
• Classroom Management
• Creative learning spaces and activities

Dean, School of Education | Assistant Professor of Education

Biography

Professor Heather Vezner enjoyed being a classroom teacher for 17 years. Her experiences in the classroom included serving as an elementary education teacher, early childhood program administrator, and parent educator for a grant-funded early education program. She first came to Concordia University in 2009 in the role of Field Experience Coordinator and TPA Assistant Coordinator. She has also served as Director of Student Teaching, Director of Preliminary Teacher Credential Programs and Assistant Dean. Her areas of research and expertise include: early childhood education, literacy development, mentoring, teacher preparation, and leadership development.

Teaching Credentials and Certificates

• California Multiple Subject Clear Teaching Credential, 2009
• Illinois Early Childhood Teaching Credential, 2007
• M.A. - Early Childhood Education, Concordia University, Chicago, 1996
• Illinois Elementary Education Teaching Credential, 1993
• B.A. - Elementary Education, Concordia University, Chicago, 1993