Athens State University :: College of Education

Meet the Faculty

N. Amanda Branscombe

N. Amanda Branscombe, Ed.D.
Associate Professor, Secondary English Education/Early Childhood Education

Dr. Branscombe serves as the education advisor for English majors at Athens State University. Her primary teaching responsibilities are in SC 333 (Teaching Reading/Writing in Content Areas), EH 457 (Materials and Methods of English), and Early Childhood Education. Her research and writing interests are in the areas of constructivist teacher education, teacher action research, early childhood and English education, and literacy. Dr. Branscombe’s public school teaching experience includes teaching English (grades 7-12) and kindergarten. In addition to this experience, she has taught English in the community college setting, directed child development centers, and taught early childhood education at the university level. Her journal articles have appeared in the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education and Childhood Education. Houghton Mifflin, Heinemann, and Routledge have published her textbooks.

COURSES
SC 333: Teaching Reading/Writing in Content Areas
EH 457: Materials and Methods of English
ER 400: Children’s Play as Symbolic Behavior

CONTACT INFORMATION
amanda.branscombe@athens.edu
Founders Hall Room 202
256-216-6633

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Leigh Hester Bunn, Ed.S.
Assistant Professor, Secondary Science Education

Professor Bunn serves as the education advisor for biology, science, and math majors at Athens State University. Her primary teaching responsibilities are in SC 362 (Assessment and Evaluation) and GS/BI/CH 456 (Methods of Teaching Science). Her research and writing interests are in the areas of science literacy and reading and writing across the science curriculum. Professor Bunn taught secondary science (grades 6-12) in public schools for 9 ½ years before coming to Athens State in January, 2010. She also worked as an adjunct professor for Athens State for several years in the College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences.

COURSES
SC 362: Assessment and Evaluation in Secondary Education
GS/BI/CH 456: Materials and Methods of Teaching General Science/Biology/Chemistry in Middle/High School

CONTACT INFORMATION
leigh.bunn@athens.edu
Founders Hall 215
256-216-6615

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Prentice Chandler

Prentice T. Chandler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Secondary History/Social Science Education
Chair, Center for Social Studies Education

Dr. Chandler serves as the education advisor for history and social science majors at Athens State University. His primary teaching responsibilities are in SC 331 (Classroom Management) and HY/SS 450 (Methods of Teaching History/Social Science). His research and writing interests are in the areas of social studies education and methods, critical race theory, civic literacy, academic freedom, and authentic social studies pedagogy. Dr. Chandler taught secondary social studies (grades 6-12) in public schools for 6 years before coming to Athens State in 2006. He has also worked as an adjunct professor of geography at The University of North Alabama. Some of his published work has appeared in Social Education, The Journal of Social Studies Research, Social Studies Research and Practice, and Teacher Education Quarterly. Dr. Chandler also serves as the chair of the Center for Social Studies Education at Athens State University and as faculty sponsor of Pi Gamma Mu, The International Honor Society in Social Science.

COURSES
SC 331: Classroom Management in Secondary Education
HY/SS 450: Materials and Methods of Teaching History/Social Sciences in Middle/High School

CONTACT INFORMATION
prentice.chandler@athens.edu
Founders Hall 205
256-216-6632

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Patricia Edge Glaze, M.A.Ed.
Assistant Professor, Mathematics

Professor Glaze is the lead instructor for MA 301 Precalculus Algebra, MA 309 Business Calculus, MA 311 Advanced Math for Teachers, and MA 454 Methods and Materials for Teaching Middle/High School Mathematics. In addition to her teaching duties, she collaborates with the College of Education with respect to the Teacher Education Program on behalf of ASU Track II secondary mathematics licensure students. Professor Glaze has eight years of experience teaching middle and high school mathematics in public schools and taught as an adjunct instructor at ASU for three years. She is an Athens State University Alumna, and earned several honors including “Outstanding Mathematics Major”, “Highest Scholastic Achievement in the School of Education”, the ACTM Scholarship and membership in Kappa Mu Epsilon. Professor Glaze serves on several university committees, including the course substitution committee, and is the faculty advisor to ASU’s Alabama Alpha Chapter of Kappa Mu Epsilon, a national mathematics honor society.

COURSES
MA 454 Methods and Materials for Teaching Middle/High School Mathematics
MA 301 Precalculus Algebra
MA 309 Business Calculus
MA 311 Advanced Math for Teachers

CONTACT INFORMATION
patricia.glaze@athens.edu
Waters Hall S203C
256-233-6503

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Dr. Mary Beth Johns
Assistant Professor, Visual Art Education

Dr. Mary Beth Johns serves as Assistant Professor of Visual Art Education at Athens State University. Her primary teaching responsibilities are AR 310 and AR 455 (Fine Arts Connection for the Elementary Learner and Materials and Methods of Art K-12). Her research and writing interests are in the usefulness of Contemporary Art in the K-12 setting. Dr. Johns taught in the Tuscaloosa city public schools as a traveling PK – 5th grade art teacher. In addition to this experience, she has taught Art Foundations in the community college setting and served as Curator of Education at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art.

COURSES
AR 310: Fine Arts Connection
AR 455: Materials and Methods of Art K-12

CONTACT INFORMATION
Mary.Beth.Johns@athens.edu