Cathy Smeltzer Erb

Cathy Smeltzer Erb is director of the academic success center and professor of teacher education. Previously she served as director of the undergraduate teacher education program and Jesse T. Byler Endowed Chair. Cathy earned a Ph.D. and M.Ed. in curriculum studies from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT), and a B.S. in secondary education from Eastern Mennonite University. Prior to entering teacher education, Dr. Smeltzer Erb spent over 15 years as a middle and high school family studies teacher and guidance counselor in Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. She has taught undergraduate curriculum and methods courses with an emphasis on engaged and equitable classroom environments. She has provided consultation services to pre-service, in-service, and university faculty in the U.S., Canada, Indonesia, and Vietnam in the areas of teacher development, beginning teacher induction, curriculum development, instructional approaches, and action research. Publications and research presentations at local, national, and international conferences have explored restorative justice pedagogy, equitable instruction, teacher development, the emotional dimension of beginning teaching, the calling to teach, and self-care for teachers. Cathy is an AILACTE Scholar Award recipient.

• Smeltzer Erb, C. (2024). Inclusive Teaching Strategies in a Card Deck. Presentation at the Mennonite Higher Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, May 14, 2024.
• Smeltzer Erb, C. & Evans, K. Pedagogical Practices for RJ Educators, Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, June 28, 2023.
• Evans, K. & Smeltzer Erb, C. A Framework for Restorative Justice Pedagogies, AACTE Conference, Indianapolis, IN, February 24, 2023.
• Evans, K. & Smeltzer Erb, C. Restorative Justice as a Pedagogical Practice, Mennonite Educators Conference, Leesburg, VA, February 3, 2023.
• Frederick, S., Smeltzer Erb, C., Jones, G., Bailey, P. (2022). Small EPPs reflect on CAEP accreditation. VACTE ((Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) Fall Conference, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA, October 13-14, 2022.
• Evans, K., & Smeltzer Erb, C. Pedagogical Practices for RJ Educators, Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, June 29, 2022.
• Evans, K., & Smeltzer Erb, C. Pedagogical Practices for RJ Educators, Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, June 22, 2021.
• Smeltzer Erb, C., & Evans, K. Restorative Justice in Education as Pedagogical Practice, Graduate Teacher Education Webinar, Eastern Mennonite University, June 2, 2021.
• Smeltzer Erb, C. Creating space for beginning teachers’ professional growth alongside improving teacher preparation. Presentation at the VACTE/ATE-VA (Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education/Association of Teacher Educators-VA) Fall Conference, Roanoke, VA, October 5-6, 2017.

• Gifts Discernment Team Chair, Shalom Mennonite Congregation, 2023-present.
• Board Member, Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, PA, 2015-present.
• Congregational Chair, Shalom Mennonite Congregation, 2021.
• Administrative Council Member, Shalom Mennonite Congregation, 2020.
• Co-Chair MidValley Consortium Advisory Council, 2017-2019.
• Participated in Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Report Review, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, February 6, 2018.

• Council of Independent Colleges Improving Science Pedagogy Grant, $2,000, Fall 2024.
• Teacher Induction Coach, Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Grant, Award Number 2050250 ($1,182,443), National Science Foundation (NSF 17-541), 2021-2026.                   
• Recipient of 2021 Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement, in role as CAEP Coordinator, 2020-2021.
• Jesse T. Byler Endowed Chair, 2016-2023.
• Mennonite Education Agency, Fund for Peoplehood Education grant, Supporting Beginning Teachers, $2,000.

• Restorative Justice in Education Graduate Certificate
• Virginia Postgraduate Professional License
• Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR I)

• POD Network: Professional and Organizational Development
• Virginia Educational Development Collaborative (VEDC)
• Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD)
• Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD) in Virginia
• American Educational Research Association (AERA)
  AERA Division K: Teaching and Teacher Education
• American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE)
• Virginia Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (VACTE)
• Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education (AILACTE)

• AHEAD (Association on Higher Education And Disability) in Virginia Spring 2024 Virtual Conference, March 21-24, 2024.
• POD Network (Professional and Organizational Development) Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, November 15-18, 2023.
• AHEAD (Association on Higher Education And Disability) in Virginia Fall Drive-In Conference, James Madison University November 3, 2023.
• Restorative Justice in Education Conference (virtual), Eastern Mennonite University, June 27-28, 2023.
• AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) Conference, Indianapolis, IN, February 23-25, 2023.
• Mennonite Educators Conference, Leesburg, VA, February 2-4, 2023.
• VACTE (Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) Fall Conference, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA, October 13-14, 2022.Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, June 28-29, 2022.
• VACTE (Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) Spring Conference (Virtual), April 28-29, 2022.
• VACTE (Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) Fall Conference (Virtual), November 11-12, 2021.
• CAEP Con Fall 2021 General Session, Virtual, October 7, 2021.
• Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, June 22-23, 2021.
• Self-Interrogation and Syllabus Analysis Workshop, Eastern Mennonite University, June 4, 2021.
• Curriculum Development Institute, Goshen College, Virtual, May 25-28, 2021.
• Virginia Education Assessment Collaborative (VEAC) Spring Mini Conference (Virtual), May 5-6, 2021.
• VACTE/ATE-VA (Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education/Association of Teacher Educators-VA) Spring Conference (Virtual), March 18-19, 2021.
• Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education (AILACTE) Virtual Conference, A Call for Action: Surviving, Thriving, and Reimaging the Preparation of Teachers. February 24-26, 2021.
• American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) Annual Meeting, Resisting Hate, Restoring Hope: Engaging in Courageous Action, Virtual Conference, February 24-26, 2021.

• Committee on Teaching and Learning, Co-Chair
• Faculty Status Committee
• Academic Review Committee, Chair
• Academic Accountability Representative
• QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) Implementation Team