Teacher Education Faculty and Staff
The Department of Teacher Education is open every week day, excluding state holidays, from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Feel free to call the department during normal business hours toll free at 1-800-628-FHSU or directly at 785-628-4204. If you have a general inquiry, please click on Contact Us to submit your question. If you want to reach a specific faculty or staff member, see his or her direct contact information below.
Dr. Chris Jochum
Department Chair
Professor
Rarick Hall 244
785-628-4204
cjjochum@fhsu.edu
Dr. Christopher Jochum currently serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Teacher Education at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) where he leads all aspects of one of the largest teacher preparation programs in the state of Kansas.
As an award-winning educator, Dr. Jochum’s work has been recognized in both higher education and the public schools. As a high school teacher, Dr. Jochum was a finalist for the Master Teacher of the Year Award for the Salina Unified School District. While at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), Dr. Jochum received the campus-wide Creative Teaching Award, Outstanding Professor Award, Preferred Professor Award, Advisor of the Month and was named a finalist across all University of Nebraska campuses for the Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award. In 2015, Dr. Jochum was inducted into the Academy for Teacher Education Excellence at UNK, a prestigious award for those who have made significant contributions to teacher education and preparation. Since beginning his administrative appointment at FHSU in 2016, Dr. Jochum has received the College of Education’s Outstanding Research Award and Outstanding Service Award and has twice been recognized for his mentoring of faculty members within the Department of Teacher Education.
Dr. Jochum’s previous professional appointments include the University of Nebraska at Kearney as an Associate Professor of Foreign Language Education and Spanish, the University of Central Missouri as an Assistant Professor of Secondary Education, Salina High School South (Kansas) as a secondary Spanish teacher and Chair of the World Languages Department and Kearney Public Schools (Nebraska) as a K-12 English as a Second Language teacher.
Dr. Jochum holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Kansas State University, a master’s degree in Spanish and ESL Education and a bachelor’s degree in secondary education (Spanish and Speech) from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Dr. Jochum’s research focuses on leadership development in higher education as well as the preparation and professional development of preservice and in-service foreign language teachers.
Dr. Sarah Broman
Assistant Professor
Rarick Hall 239
785-628-4683
sebroman@fhsu.edu
Dr. Sarah Broman grew up in Russell, Kansas. Upon leaving Russell, she owned and operated a federally licensed childcare business in California, taught conversational English in Japan, and was contracted by the federal government as a Religious Education Director aboard Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan. After returning to the United States, she began course work at Indiana University in pursuit of a degree in Elementary Education. Sarah later transferred to Fort Hays State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 2010. She taught in the public school system for four years while continuing her education at FHSU, receiving a Master of Science degree in 2014. Dr. Broman received a Doctorate of Philosophy from Kansas State University in Curriculum and Instruction with a Reading emphasis. Her areas of expertise include language and literacy acquisition, theoretical models of reading, pre-service teacher belief systems, literacy assessment and intervention practices, and project-based learning strategies. In her spare time, Dr. Broman enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends.
Mr. Hayden Hutchison
Academic Advisor (A-L)
Rarick Hall 210F
785-628-4528
hthutchison@fhsu.edu
A native of Hays, KS, Hayden Hutchison holds a degree in Management from Fort Hays State University. During his time at FHSU, Hayden was selected as a VIP Ambassador and a Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship Ambassador. He also started the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization, serving as President, and worked as a Student Assistant in the Center for Entrepreneurship. Hayden has participated in over 10 collegiate business competitions and was selected among 20 students in the U.S. to win the $500 Student Award issued by the Association for Entrepreneurship USA. Hayden enjoys reading spy books, playing Texas Hold'em and spending time with his two-year-old daughter.
Ms. Megan Maska
Academic Advisor (M-Z)
Rarick Hall 210H
785-628-5445
mlmaska@fhsu.edu
A native of Hays, KS, Megan Maska holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minor in Sociology from FHSU. For the last six years she has worked in the Registrar’s Office at FHSU, processing all freshman admission applications. During this time, she also completed her Master of Science in Education, High Education Student Affairs at FHSU. Outside of work, Megan enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She also has two dogs, Rocky and Daisy.
Ms. Heather Musil
Instructor
Rarick Hall 237
785-628-4143
hjmusil@fhsu.edu
Heather Musil has been a tiger for over 20 years! Heather graduated from FHSU with a degree in elementary education (certified K-9) and a master's degree in special education. In her previous life, she taught as a special education teacher at the middle school level working with students with mild to moderate disabilities. Heather enjoyed her time at the middle school, but was ready for something new and exciting! Outside of FHSU, Heather and her husband have three children who keep them very busy. Heather and her husband also own a local business that they enjoy spending time at. The couples favorite past time is traveling to experience new and exciting places!
Ms. Stephanie Muth
Virtual College Instructor
sdmuth@fhsu.edu
Stephanie D. Muth began her career in the Department of Teacher Education at Fort Hays State University in the fall of 2012 after teaching as a public educator for the previous thirteen years. She is currently seeking an Education Specialist degree in Education Administration from FHSU. In addition to serving as an academic advisor, she has been the instructor of the science methods and foundations of modern education courses. She has also served as the Region 5 Representative for the Kansas Association of Teachers of Science. Stephanie currently teaches online courses for the Early Childhood Unified program. She is married and enjoys spending time with her three beautiful daughters.
Ms. Susan Renk
Ms. Kerri Snow
Instructor
Rarick Hall 212A
785-628-4578
klsnow2@fhsu.edu
Kerri Snow was born and raised in a small town in Southern, IN just 10 miles north of Louisville, KY. She received both her Bachelor (2003) and Master (2007) degrees from Indiana University. For the last 14 years she has been teaching in public schools within Indiana and Kentucky. Her experience includes teaching Kindergarten for six years and Technology (grades K-6) for eight years. She recently moved to Hays to become a full-time Instructor for the Department of Teacher Education. She is married to Dr. David Snow, Director of Entrepreneurship at FHSU. In her spare time, she likes to go camping, enjoys crafting, and spending time with her family and three pugs; Bubba, Bailee, and Brindlee.
Dr. Janet Stramel
Associate Professor
Rarick Hall 240
785-628-4474
jkstramel@fhsu.edu
Born and raised in Guthrie, Oklahoma, Janet Stramel earned her Ph.D. at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Before that, she taught middle school mathematics in Guthrie, OK and Wamego, KS. Dr. Stramel joined the Department of Teacher Education in 2009 and teaches elementary mathematics methods courses. Dr. Stramel is an accomplished pianist and enjoys traveling with her husband.
Ms. Sara Stroup
Instructor
Tiger Tots Director
Rarick Hall 210B
785-628-5852
sjstroup@fhsu.edu
Sara Stroup graduated from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education and a Master of Science in Early Childhood Special Education. Her teaching experiences include sixteen years of teaching in the school district, prior to becoming an instructor in the Department of Teacher Education in 2009. Her areas of interests and experiences include human growth and development, early childhood education, special education, and mental health across the life span. Sara is the director of Tiger Tots Nutury Center, an on-campus pre-school for children of students, faculty and staff. She and her family enjoy spending time together camping, traveling in the mountains, riding motorcycles and providing respite care for children and elderly. One of her favorite quotes is that of Albert Einstein: "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."
Dr. Beth Walizer
Professor
Rarick Hall 243
785-628-5579
bwalizer@fhsu.edu
Beth Walizer graduated from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1979 and a Master of Science in Education Administration in 1992. She earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Assessment with an emphasis in reading from Kansas State University in 2004. Beth taught elementary grades for USD 407 in Russell, Kansas from August 1979 until May 2003. She began teaching as an adjunct in 2001 for the Department of Teacher Education at FHSU. In August 2003, Dr. Walizer became a full time faculty member. Currently, she is a professor teaching reading and language arts methods courses. In her free time, she and her husband, Ken, adore being grandparents to two wonderful grandsons, Evan and Beau. In addition, they enjoy working with their black Labrador retrievers, GRHRCH War Eagle What's Up Toots MH (Toots), Zippity Do Da Day QAA (Zippy), and Academy's Shoot 'em Down, Turn Around (Mony).
Dr. Valerie Zelenka
Associate Professor
Program Coordinator, Special Education
Rarick Hall 241
785-628-4688
vlzelenka@fhsu.edu
Ms. Deana Zerr
Instructor
Rarick Hall 209C
785-628-4646
dlzerr4@fhsu.edu
Deana Zerr moved her from Ocala, Florida where she taught as an elementary teacher, middle school teacher, served on the School Board Member and served as a University Associate Vice President. She has over 15 years of teaching in higher education. Her educational focus at FHSU is on Diverse Learning and Human Growth and Development. She and her husband Kirk are famers in Quinter, Kansas. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting her grandsons in Florida, antiquing, gardening and cooking.
CONTACT
Department of Teacher Education
Fort Hays State University
600 Park Street
Rarick Hall 244
Phone: 785-628-4204
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