At the October Board of Education meeting, the Board recognized Dr. Rebecca Wivell, Dean of Students for Caroline Career & Technology (CCTC), for recently completing a doctoral degree in Contemporary Curriculum Theory and Instruction with a focus in literacy from Salisbury University.
Dr. Wivell’s dissertation, entitled, Social Media in Middle School Literacy Instruction, focused on the social media platform Twiducate in middle school writing. Students wrote for nine weeks focusing on argumentative, informative, and narrative writing, and worked with teams to learn how to effectively give feedback their peers could use to improve their writing. Dr. Wivell found giving students a choice of topic, giving them time to write, and teaching them how to collaborate with their peers were powerful factors that engaged students and built confidence in their writing. Link to Dissertation
Dr. Wivell began her career in Frederick in 2008 as a Behavior Specialist and Special Education teacher. In 2012, she joined Caroline County Public Schools as a Special Education teacher at Colonel Richardson High School, and subsequently moving to Colonel Richardson Middle School as a Reading Intervention Specialist and Instructional Coach. This year, Dr. Wivell assumed the position of Dean of Students at CCTC.