Teacher Education Faculty

Professors

Dr. Lou Kasias
B.S., Western Carolina University; M.Ed., Ed.D., University of North Carolina at Greensboro; post-doctoral study, University of Georgia
Office: KH 104
Phone: (704) 637-4462
E-mail: lakasias@catawba.edu

In her own words:
"My formal education includes a B.S. from Western Carolina University and an M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I have taught in the public schools for nine years. Most of this time was spent teaching fifth and sixth graders and teaching younger students in reading classes. I am licensed in a number of areas: Elementary Education, Reading Education, Middle School Education: Language Arts and Social Studies, and high school English/Language Arts. "

Dr. James K. Stringfield, Jr.
DEAN, Goodman School of Education; Education; B.A., M.A.T., Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Office: KH 112
Phone: (704) 637-4337
E-mail: jstringf@catawba.edu

Dr. James Stringfield joined the faculty in 1997 as an associate professor of teacher education and was named to head teacher education at the College in 1998. He promoted to the rank of professor of teacher education in 2005. In 2009, he was named as Dean of the Goodman School of Education with responsibilities for both teacher education and physical education departments. A former high school science teacher, Stringfield came to Catawba from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where he served as associate professor and coordinator of secondary education, program director of science education and director of the UPJ Center for Mathematics and Science Education.

associate professors

Dr. Cynthia B. Osterhus Dr. Cynthia Osterhus
Associate Professor; B.A., Catawba College; M.Ed., Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Office: KH 105
Phone: (704) 637-4761
E-mail: costerhu@catawba.edu

Dr. Cyndi Osterhus is an associate professor of Teacher Education. Dr. Osterhus has been in education for 35 years, serving in public school education as a mathematics teacher and a district administrator prior to coming to Catawba. Dr. Osterhus has been recognized nationally for excellence in teaching including the honors of serving as the North Carolina Teacher of the Year and as one of the NASA Teacher in Space finalists. Her credentials include endorsements from several nationally acclaimed programs including Brain-Compatible Learning and certification from the Franklin-Covey Leadership Institute in leadership, teaming and time-management programs.

Dr. Rhonda Truitt
DEPARTMENT CHAIR; Director of Catawba's Shirley Peeler Ritchie Academy for Teaching; Associate Professor of Teacher Education / Title IX Coordinator of Athletics; B.A.E., Florida Atlantic University; M.A., University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Ed.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Office: KH 106
Phone: (704) 637-4468
E-mail: rltruitt@catawba.edu

Dr. Rhonda Truitt joined the Teacher Education faculty in August 2006, is an associate professor, and serves as the elementary education coordinator. She has served in public instruction for 30 years with experience as the Director of Elementary Education and Title I, an elementary school principal and assistant principal, and an elementary classroom teacher for the Alamance-Burlington School System. She also briefly served as the interim Associate Superintendent of Curriculum for the Alamance-Burlington School System. Dr. Truitt is serving as the counselor for Catawba College's Theta Phi Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the teacher education honor society.

Assistant Professors

Amanda Bosch
Assistant Professor/Director of Curriculum Materials Center - B.S., University of Georgia; M.L.I.S., University of South Carolina Columbia
Office: KH 101
Phone: (704) 637-4316
E-mail: abosch@catawba.edu

In her own words:
"I joined the faculty of the Department of Teacher Education at Catawba College in August 2001 bringing with me eight years of public school experience teaching high school English, serving as an elementary reading tutor and directing a school media center. While working in the public schools, I was able to secure many different grant opportunities focusing on integrating technology into the curriculum. Thus began an interest in both grant writing and technology."

Dr. Karen Lucas
Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
Office: KH

Lucas joined the Department of Teacher Education at Catawba College in 2013.