For the past 16 years as Dean of the Teachers College, Roy Weaver has led Ball State to be ranked among the top education departments in the country through the development and implementation of many nationally-recognized programs. However because Weaver decided to step down as dean, tomorrow will be his last day in the position.
Weaver has been able to witness the evolution and transformation of the Teachers College over the years first hand, having received both his bachelor's degree in 1968 and his master's degree in 1971 from Ball State. Since his return to the university in 1980 to begin his career as an associate professor of curriculum, Weaver has been an integral part of the Teachers College. After just three years of teaching, he was promoted to associate dean and promoted once again to dean in 1993.
During his tenure, the Teachers College has flourished because of Weaver's leadership. Among his accomplishments are several stand-out, award-winning programs and initiatives that were developed and implemented into the department under his guidance.
The national and international award-winning Electronic Field Trips (EFT) program gives students in K-12 classrooms from across the nation, as well as in seven other countries, opportunities to experience field trips via a live broadcast and interactive Web site. The EFT program's partnership with a number of national museums, parks and historical areas has allowed over 15 million viewers to explore anything from the NASA space center to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History to the Carlsbad Caverns.
Weaver's guidance also led to the recognition of Burris Laboratory School as one of the state's top high schools by the U.S News World and Report and a Blue Ribbon designation from the U.S. Department of Education.
The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities was developed during Weaver's tenure and remains the only residential, state-supported high school for gifted and talented students in Indiana.
In addition, Weaver's leadership led Ball State to become the first and only university in Indiana to authorize charter schools and one of the first schools in the nation to initiate a laptop requirement for enrolling education majors.
Weaver has also been working along side Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Community Engagement Frank Sabatine in the development of a number of online master's degrees for K-12 teachers. Sabatine states that the future of graduate education for working adults is in "asynchronous learning" and Weaver's vision, understanding and promotion of online programs is his greatest accomplishment.
"[Weaver]'s leadership in the development of online graduate education is visionary," Sabatine said, "he is constantly looking out in the future. It's admirable in a dean to be looking at where we need to be in five or 10 years from now, and that's what Weaver does. That's what a leader does."
However, Weaver remains humble with his leadership and guidance in the implementation of such programs and gives credit to his fellow faculty members.
"What sticks out the most and what I'm most grateful about is the fact that a lot of the faculty came up with many new ideas to do innovative things," Weaver said. "I've always believed you hire the best people you can, and then you get out of the way and let them do their work."
Weaver's leadership during his tenure will leave a lasting impact on the Teachers College and has made Ball State one of the premier teaching programs in the nation. As he steps down from his position, Weaver has set the groundwork for his successor John Jacobson.
"I have been in the deans office for 26 years and I want to end my career as it started, and that's teaching," Weaver explains. "I feel as though things are in good shape in the college, and it's time for someone else to come in. I'm happy with what I did and I have no regrets with it. I'm really excited to start teaching again."
Weaver is happy with the hiring of Dean Jacobson and believes it will be a positive and smooth transition. Although Weaver is looking forward to teaching once again, certain aspects of his position as dean will be missed.
"I'll miss working with as many good people as I have. And it has always been exciting - you come to work and you can't be sure of what exactly you're going to find." Weaver said. "The uncertainty is kind of fun. I'll definitely miss problem solving and helping people, but I'll be working with students and I know I'm really going to enjoy that."
Weaver's return to teaching will begin this fall as he teaches an online class while supervising a student-teaching program he helped establish in Baumholder, Germany. Accomplishments and success as dean aside, teaching remains a top priority to Weaver.
"I am really committed to being the best teacher I can be," he said. "And I can't wait to focus on that once again."
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