SOE Alumna Heroman Receives Alumna of Distinction Award
Cate Heroman, two-time School of Education alumna, is the School of Education recipient of the Alumna of Distinction Award.
Heroman received the Alumna of Distinction Award at the Hall of Distinction, held Friday, April 1, 2016 at the Lod Cook Alumni Center.
Heroman has worked in the field of education for more than 38 years. From classroom teacher, to state early childhood administrator, to author of early childhood curriculum and assessment materials, to consultant, she has truly accomplished her lifelong passion of helping young children become successful learners and socially competent.
Heroman received her B.S. in Elementary Education in 1974 and her Masters of Education (M.Ed.), Reading in 1977.
When working on her certification in gifted education, Dr. Neil Mathews encouraged her to teach the first class for gifted preschoolers in East Baton Rouge Parish, the only class of its kind “south of the Mason-Dixon line.” With no curriculum guides to follow and little scholarship written for this age group, Dr. Mathews encouraged Heroman to first consider the characteristics of preschool children, then create curriculum based on the children’s strengths and interests. Heroman says this endeavor is what “planted the seed” for her keen interest in project-based learning, and is a consistent theme throughout all of the early childhood teacher education materials she helped to develop in her career.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, early childhood teachers were struggling with how to respond to the emotional needs of young students while experiencing the trauma themselves. This ignited a sense of urgency in Heroman, so she worked nonstop to write Helping Children Rebound: Strategies for Infant & Toddler Teachers after the 2005 Hurricanes, a booklet identifying specific teaching strategies to help children rebound from the terrible disaster, and hand-delivered the books throughout the gulf south region.
Heroman is the co-author of many early childhood resources, including the Teaching Strategies GOLD™; The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool; The Coach’s Guide; Helping Children Rebound: Strategies for Preschool Teachers After the 2005 Hurricanes; Building Your Baby’s Brain; Literacy: The Creative Curriculum® Approach, and numerous others.
When asked what advice Heroman would give to recent alumni, she said, “The first year of teaching is so hard. Find a mentor on the faculty, someone you can trust, share ideas, and ask questions. Relationships are at the heart of everything, so having a colleague to help you and give you advice is so important.”
Heroman says, “Teach with integrity. Try your best. And finally, becoming an excellent teacher takes time and experience. Your investment of time in educating young children will pay off one day in making our community and world a better place.”
Heroman is deeply connected to the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education. She is a University Laboratory School Board Member. She also supervised student teachers in the School of Education’s PK-3 Teacher Education Program. After supervising these student teachers, she says they are responsive teachers who really get to know their students and then shape their instruction to meet individual needs and interests.
“It gives me hope for the future of early childhood education and that wherever these students go, the knowledge, skill, and dispositions instilled at LSU will result in better lives for children, families, and communities.”
Heroman has two grandchildren at the LSU Child Development Laboratory Preschool and grandchildren at the University Laboratory School.
2016 honorees included:
Cate Heroman, Alumna of Distinction | School of Education
Wendy McLain, Alumna of Distinction | School of Library & Information Science
Wally McMakin, Alumnus of Distinction | School of Kinesiology
Ronnie & Allyson Morris, Philanthropy Award
Lieutenant Herbert “Tweety” Anny, Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination (BRAVE) Leader,
Community Partner | School of Social Work
Mayor Holden’s Love Our Community Summer Youth Employment Program, Community Partner
| School of Leadership & Human Resource Development
Cub Club, Community Partner | University Laboratory School
About SOE
The LSU School of Education (SOE) offers graduate and undergraduate programs in Curriculum and Instruction and in Educational Leadership, Research, and Counseling. The School’s mission is to prepare P-12 educational professionals to be leaders, practitioners and scholars knowledgeable in contemporary educational issues.
Visit the School of Education at lsu.edu/education
About CHSE
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The College is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Leadership and Human Resource Development, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Library and Information Science, the School of Social Work, and the University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs and 18 graduate programs, enrolling more than 1,900 undergraduate and 977 graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is continually working to improve its programs.
Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education at chse.lsu.edu
The Pre-K through 3rd grade teacher-education program at LSU is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) and adheres to the organization’s Professional Preparation Standards. Teacher candidates in the PK-3 Teacher Education program move through the program in cohorts, gaining the advantage of close collegial relationships found to be effective for personal and professional development. Candidates participate in field-based professional blocks and student teaching in diverse professional development school settings.