Faculty Profile: Darlene Witte-Townsend
A native of Alberta, Canada, Darlene Witte-Townsend hails from a family of teachers - four generations. Her mother died when she was young, an experience that has shaped her life - and her work. "It helped me to focus on the needs of children - what do children need to be nourished in their bodies, their hearts, their souls, their minds," she says.
Darlene taught for 13 years in elementary schools in Edmonton, Alberta, where she obtained her M.Ed. and Ph.D. before joining Johnson State College in 1993. Her research has included examinations of children's play, literacy, language, spirituality and development, as well as educational philosophy, communication, practices, and the effects of No Child Left Behind. "My driving passion," Darlene explains, "is keeping a balance between structured practice and the type of practice that allows children to experience the beauty of the written word." She has published extensively, including in special editions of competitive, international journals, and won numerous awards, grants and fellowships. She enjoys the challenge of teaching college students, from the idealistic undergraduates to teachers of wide experience who are looking for a graduate school experience that will inform their daily teaching while supporting their professional growth.
At home in Wolcott, she writes, studies wisdom traditions, reads light fiction and grows perennials.
