Jennifer Fisler, Ed.D.

I began teaching at Messiah College in 2003. In addition to my work as a professor, I serve as Assistant Dean of Teacher Education and Director of the Graduate Program in Education. 

I personally enjoy learning new things. I also see how knowledge and the ability to use knowledge and skills in creative ways open up opportunities for people. In this way, I see that education has the ability to empower people to fulfill their personal callings. The opportunity to be part of that empowerment process is a great privilege of an educator. In addition to being an educator, I feel called to act as a leader. I resonate with the idea that leadership is an act of service to others that is born out of a love for others and for doing work that makes the lives of others more meaningful. 

My research and scholarship interests include:

• Co-teaching in the student teaching experience
• Social and Emotional Learning and Trauma-Responsive Education
• Teaching efficacy beliefs
• Assessment of student learning

My hobbies include running, reading, and cheering on my children in sporting and other school events.

• Ed.D., Rutgers University, 2002
  Statistics and Measurement
  Dissertation title:
  Leadership, Social Capital and Resources: Promoting Teacher Learning in a Professional Development School
• M.Ed., Rutgers University, 2002
  Social and Philosophical Foundation of Education
• B.A., Messiah College, 1994
  Behavioral Science with Secondary Social Studies

• EDUC 330: Instructional Design I
• EDUC 331: Instructional Design and Assessment for Middle and Secondary Grades
• EDUC 420: Professional Issues in Education

I personally enjoy learning new things. I also see how knowledge and the ability to use knowledge and skills in creative ways open up opportunities for people. In this way, I see that education has the ability to empower people to fulfill their personal callings. The opportunity to be part of that empowerment process is a great privilege of an educator. In addition to being an educator, I feel called to act as a leader. I resonate with the idea that leadership is an act of service to others that is born out of a love for others and for doing work that makes the lives of others more meaningful. 

Hobbies
I enjoy running, reading, and cheering on my children in sporting and other school events.

Articles

Burchard, M., Fisler, J.L., & Dormer, J. (2017). Interactions between teachers’ attribution for student learning and implementation of evidence-based practices. AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice. 

Fisler, J. L., & Firestone, W. A. (2006). Exploring the role of social capital and teaching efficacy in teacher learning. Teachers College Record, 108(6). 1155-1185.

Firestone, W.A., & Fisler, J. (2002). Politics, community, and leadership in a school-university partnership. Educational Administration Quarterly, 38(4) 449-493.

Bulkley, K., & Fisler, J. (April 2002). CPRE policy brief (RB-35), A decade of charter schools: From theory to practice.

Fisler, J. L., Young, J.W., & Hein, J. L. (Winter, 2000). Retaining women in the sciences: Evidence from Douglass College’s Project SUPER. Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 6(4) 349-372.

Young, J. W., & Fisler, J. L. (2000). Sex differences on the SAT: An analysis of demographic and educational variables. Research in Higher Education, 41(3) 401-416.

Presentations

• Fisler, J. L., & Joergensen, P. (April 2019). “Realistic vs. effective: An analysis of traditional and co-teaching models of student teaching.” Roundtable presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) in Toronto, Canada.
• Fisler, J. L., & Joergensen, P. (November 2018). “Cooperating teachers and college supervisors weigh in: Using voices from the field to inform our model of student teaching.” Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators in Harrisburg, PA.
• Fisler, J. L.(October 2018). “Resistance, Indifference, and Devotion: Responses to Co-Teaching from the Field.” Presentation at the National Conference on Co-Teaching in Minneapolis, MN. 
• Fisler, J. L., & McGill, J. (April 2018). “Co-Teaching as a Model for Student Teaching: A Win-Win Partnership.” Presentation at the Annual P4CE Bridges Conference in Cape May, NJ.
• Fisler, J. L., & Fischer, S. (October 2017). “Simulating the 21st century teacher's dilemma: Using project-based learning to help teacher candidates design instruction that's good for students and meets external mandates.” Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators in Harrisburg, PA.
• Fisler, J. L., Sauder, R., & Wells, C. (January 2017). “Advancing SOTL through a Professional Learning Community.” Presentation at the Scholarship of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Conference in Westchester, PA. 
• Fisler, J. L., Jorgensen, P. (October 2016). “Everyone Wins: Co-Teaching Benefits for All Participants.” Presentation at the National Conference on Co-Teaching in Minneapolis, MN.
• Fisler, J. L., Jorgensen, P., Reed, S., Soliday, C., McFarland, J., & Wade, L. (October 2016). “Supporting Co-pairs through Online and Face-to-Face PLCs.” Presentation at the National Conference on Co-Teaching in Minneapolis, MN.
• Wilburne, J., Fisler, J.L., Cohen, B., Jorgensen, P., Reed, S., Soliday, C., McFarland, J. (May 2016). Report on outcomes of Project Excellence, A collaborative effort to implement and study co-teaching in the student teaching experience. Presentation at the PA Department of Education Building Capacity Conference in Hershey, PA.
• Fisler, J. L., Jorgensen, P. (April 2016). “Student teachers as co-teachers: The end of sink or swim.” Presentation at the National Student Teacher Supervision Conference in West Chester, PA.
• Fisler, J. L., Jorgensen, P. Reed, S., Soliday, C., & Wilburne, J. (2015). “Cultivating and Supporting an Active Online Learning Community Throughout the Clinical Experience.” Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators in Harrisburg, PA.
• Fisler, J. L., Donat, S., & Lauermann, R. (2015). “Leveraging a distributed leadership approach to do the work of assessment in higher education.” Presentation at the Annual Conference of the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education in Lexington, KY.
• Fisler, J. L., & Eshbach, K. (2014). “Using Danielson’s Framework to enhance student teachers’ goal setting, reflection, and professional development.” Presentation at the Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators in Harrisburg, PA.
• Fisler, J. L., Donat, S., Hansen-Kieffer, K., & Finch, M. (2014). “Strategic assessment to support institutional viability.” Presentation at the Drexel University Assessment Conference in Philadelphia, PA.
• Fisler, J. L., & Donat, S. (2014). “Collaborative strategic planning in assessment: Driving accountability and action.” Presentation at the Annual Conference of the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Bortman, L.E., Chase, D., Fisler, J. L., Murry, W. (2014). “Assessing diversity: Intersections of institutional mission, character, and student learning.” Presentation to the WASC Senior College and University Commission 2014 Academic Resource Conference in Los Angelos, CA.
• Fisler, J. L. (2013). “Assessing diversity in Christian higher education.” Presentation for the Messiah College Education Department Research Forum in Mechanicsburg, PA.
• McCown, N., Fisler, J., Mohler, E., & Doucette, S. “Media effects on student attitudes toward public relations: Does public relations education make a difference?” Poster session presented to the Public Relations Society of America’s Educators Academy (PRSAEA) international conference, Washington, D.C., October 2013.
• Fisler, J. L., & Donat, S. (2013). Presentation at the Annual Conference of the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education in Lexington, KY.
• Fisler, J. L., & Donat, S. (2013). “Applying change leadership to assessment work.” Presentation at the Annual Conference of the Assessment Network of New York (ANNY) in West Point, NY.
• Fisler, J. L., & Murk, D. (2012). “Using iPads to support the work of the professional semester.” Presentation at the Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators in Harrisburg, PA.
• Fisler, J. L., Lauermann, R., & Strausbaugh, W. (2012) “Assessing critical thinking in a first year seminar course.” Poster presentation at the Council of Independent Colleges Engaging Evidence Consortium in Washington, D.C.
• Fisler, J. L. (2012). “Classroom assessment: Are we asking the right questions in the right way?” Invited workshop presentation at the annual Leadership Conference of the Pennsylvania State Education Association in Gettysburg, PA.
• Donat, S., & Fisler, J. L. (2012). “Balls, bowling pins, knives and fire: juggling the demands of effective assessment.” Presentation at the Annual Conference of the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Brandt, C., Budano, C., Durnin, J., Fisler, J. L., Groves, J., & Miller, P. (2012). “Beyond highly qualified: Supporting student learning by fostering the highly effective teacher.” Presentation at the Education Policy Fellowship Program in Harrisburg, PA.
• Fisler, J. L., & Patrick, N. (February 2011). “Building Unexpected Friendships Across Barriers of Ability.” Presentation at the Messiah College Humanities Symposium in Grantham, PA.
• Fisler, J. L. & Voelker, A. (April 2009). “Preparing future teacher leaders: Expanding pre-service teachers’ horizons for leadership.” Paper presented at American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.
• Fisler, J. L., & Kilmer, R. (February 2008). “Technology and the Learning Community: Does Using Personal Response Systems in the Classroom Make Learning More or Less Personal?” Presentation at the Messiah College Humanities Symposium in Grantham, PA.
• Fisler, J. L., & Voelker, A. N. (October 2007). “Developing future teacher leaders: A promising practice.” Paper presented at The Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE) Annual Meeting in Hershey, PA.
• Fisler, J. L. and Zook, K. (February 2006). “Instructional Design versus Constructivism: An Unnecessary Debate.” Paper presented at Eastern Educational Research Association (EERA) Annual Meeting in Hilton Head, SC. February 2006.
• Firestone, W.A., and Fisler, J. L. (November 2001). “Fragmentation and Incremental Change,” Paper presented at UCEA Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri.
• Fisler, J. L., and Young, J.W. (April 1999). “Retaining women in the sciences: Evidence from Douglass College’s Project SUPER,” Paper presented at roundtable session at American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada.