Catherine Fallona

Background

I'm a Maine native and after 10 years away, I returned in 2000 to assume my current position at USM.  While away, I lived in Tucson, Arizona; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Athens, Georgia.  In these places, I pursued my education, taught elementary school and began my career as a teacher educator.  Since coming to USM, I have built my teaching, research, and service around quality teacher education and my commitment to the democratic and moral missions of education. 

Teaching Perspective

My primary teaching responsibilities are in the TEAMS Program.  As a teacher educator, I help prospective teachers understand the principles of democratic community and plan instruction that engages learners and promotes the ideals and practices of citizenship.  All children deserve a schooling experience that helps them reach their potential, welcomes them into full participation in a democratic society and encourages them toward continued learning.

Intellectual Pursuit

I am interested in the democratic and moral missions of education.  Therefore, the focus of my scholarship is on studying novice and expert teachers' actions, intentions, and ways of thinking about teaching and learning related to the democratic and moral missions of schooling.  Recently, I have engaged in scholarship to better understand teachers' manner in terms of their expression of moral and intellectual virtue and the ways the classroom environment serves as a moral curriculum.

Personal Side

The most important thing in my life is family.  I share a home with my husband, our three daughters, our golden retriever and our cat.  I also have great parents, siblings, nieces, nephews and friends.  Being with the people I love is what I enjoy most.  I also like to travel, particularly to those places with lots of natural beauty.  I love the Red Sox too.