Technology in Education
Outstanding Adjunct Faculty

Dr. Jeff Messerer has been teaching ECOMP 5007, Technology and Special Needs, for Lesley for more than 13 years. He consistently uses his understanding of technology and special education to show both general and special educators how to use technology to enhance learning experiences for students with special needs. He has demonstrated his leadership skills not only by helping coordinate undergraduate special education programs at Northeastern Illinois University, but also by assisting in the training of Lesley adjunct faculty members who now teach ECOMP 5007. In all of his positions, Jeff works to help teachers, "educate students independent of their specific disability."

He finds that his favorite part of teaching at Lesley is that he is "Constantly learning from his students." He in turn shares with educators applications of technology that are of benefit to all learners and works to help such educators understand that "Disability should be seen more as eligibility." Dr. Brenda Matthis, the ECOMP 5007 course mentor and current TIE co-director, has high regard for Dr. Messerer's skills as a master teacher. She expressed this by stating, "Jeff was the faculty member under whom I worked as a teaching assistant, my first time teaching as a fledging adjunct with Lesley. I was so lucky to have him. I watched firsthand how to meet and get to know students, listen to their concerns, and support them through their assignments and projects. It was a wonderful learning experience for me."

Jeff has written two pertinent articles--'Teaching Pupils with Learning Disabilities Typing Skills,' published in The Quarterly and 'Adaptive Technologies and Unleashing the Power of Technology for all Students,' published in Learning and Leading with Technology--and has presented workshops on the topic at conferences hosted by the Council for Exceptional Children and Learning Disabilities of America.

Students report that Dr. Messerer is organized, provides them with great resources, and presents hands-on activities that help them learn better. One student wrote of Dr. Messerer's teaching "[it] opened my mind and caused me to rethink some things." Since offering educational programs as a transformational process is one of Lesley University's goals, we are proud to have Jeff Messerer teaching in the Technology in Education program.