TPTE 2018 Outstanding Alumni Honored at Annual Recognition Ceremony

Written by Joan Grim, senior lecturer of special education and Kristin Rearden, clinical professor of STEM education/science

The Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education (TPTE) within the College of Health and Human Sciences (CEHHS), showed gratitude to three outstanding alumni at the 5^th Annual Recognition Awards Ceremony on Thursday, October 11, 2018. TPTE Department Head Sherry Mee Bell recognized Samuel Odom (’71, ’76, ’79), Michael Robinson (’94, ’95), and Cathy Stubbs (’80) as outstanding alumni of 2018. TPTE alumni have special significance to the faculty and students as they are the voices of teachers, learners, and researchers in our communities. Alumni are heard in their classrooms and in their research for generations and they are the foundation of knowledge on which the future of education is built.

Samuel Odom (’71, ’76, ’79) completed his bachelor’s, master’s, and educational specialist degrees at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, before going on to complete his doctorate in special education at the University of Washington. Odom is the former Director of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he remains as a senior research scientist and the co-director of the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice.

Odom is the author or co-author of over 175 journal articles and book chapters, and has edited 10 books on early childhood intervention and developmental disabilities. Odom’s current research focuses on treatment efficacy for elementary and high school youth with autism spectrum disorder.

Michael Robinson (’94, ’95) graduated with a bachelor’s degree in geography and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction of the social studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Robinson is currently a social studies teacher at Houston High School in the Germantown Municipal School District, where he is also the social studies department head, a mentor teacher, and a member of the Houston High School Teacher Advisory Council. Robinson is a member of the National Council for Geographic Education, the National Education Association, the Germantown and Arlington Education Association, and the National Council for the Social Studies, where he serves as webmaster.

He has received numerous accolades for his teaching, including the 2016 Humanities Tennessee Outstanding Educator Award and the 2014 National Council for Geographic Education Distinguished Teaching Award.  He has also received travel awards to study aspects of historical interest in Germany, China and Korea.

Cathy Stubbs (’80) graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a bachelor’s degree in special education, and continued to complete her master of education and educational specialist degrees. Stubbs has worked in various special education roles since 1980, and served as Director of Special Education for Newton County Schools before her retirement in 2009. She currently works as a special education records auditor for Newton County Schools in Newton County, Georgia.

Stubbs serves on the Dean’s Board of Advisors for the University of Tennessee’s College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. Stubbs is the treasurer of the Friends of Newton Parks board, and volunteers at Middle Ridge Elementary School in Covington, Georgia.

Congratulations to TPTE’s 2018 Outstanding Alumni!