Biography

Biography

Dr. Connie Goodman is currently an Associate Lecturer at the University of Central Florida in the College of Community Innovation and Education, School of Teacher Education. Her academic preparation includes a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Special Education from the University of Florida. In addition, she earned a second Master of Arts in School Guidance and Counseling from Florida Atlantic University and completed her doctoral studies in Educational Leadership at the University of North Florida. Her dissertation was titled: Counseling for Inclusion: The role of school counselors in special education practices. Dr. Goodman began her career as a special education teacher in the Palm Beach County School system. She later worked as a guidance counselor in Palm Beach, Duval and Clay Counties. Her experience in higher education began at Jacksonville University. Dr. Goodman came to UCF in 2005 as a faculty member and coordinator for the Supporting Teacher Education Pre-professionals (STEP) program. As coordinator for the STEP program, Dr. Goodman is dedicated to her role in inspiring a new generation of teachers and ensuring every school has a qualified teacher in every classroom.

Areas of Expertise
  • Elementary Education, Special Education
  • Instructional Technology
  • Service Learning/Field Experience
  • First Year Experience, Students in Transition
  • Special Education, Inclusion
Education
  • Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership, University of North Florida (2005)
  • Master of Guidance and Counseling (MAE), Florida Atlantic University (1997)
  • Master of Arts in Special Education (MAE), University of Florida, (1993)
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Elementary Education University of Florida (1992)

Service

For the past 19 years, Dr. Goodman has been dedicated to preparing teacher candidates to work in diverse settings. To this end, her record of service is closely aligned with educational practices that promote access and inclusion. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses at UCF, Dr. Goodman is the Co-Coordinator for the Boots on the Ground (BOG) program. BOG is a service learning framework and partnership between UCF and nine schools located in OCPS and SCPS. She is also a member of the School Advisory Council at Northwestern Legends Academy in Duval County. She is the faculty advisor for the UCF Chapter of the Future Educators Association and faculty liaison for the Future Educator’s Living Learning Community. Dr. Goodman serves as the state coordinator for the Florida Teachers Advocating for Great Change Initiative, a national research project administered by the Delta Research and Educational Foundation and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Current Service
  • Future Educators Association (FEA); Faculty Advisor
  • Jamaican American Student Association, Faculty Advisor
  • Student Issues Committee
  • Future Educators Living Learning
  • Boots on the Ground; Co-Coordinator
  • School Advisory Council (SAC); Northwestern Legends Academy (Duval)
  • Soldiers to Scholars
  • Teachers Advocating for Great Change (TAG)
  • Delta Researh and Educational Foundation/Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Awards

  • Recipient of the Delta Sigma Theta Teachers Advocating to Lead Great Change Award, 2021
  • Recipient of the ‘Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, UCF, 2016
  • Recipient of the “University of Central Florida Teaching Incentive Program Award” (UCF-TIP) for outstanding teaching and mentoring of undergraduate students, 2016
  • Recipient of the “Outstanding Service Award for Faculty”, UCF Gospel Choir, 2011

Courses

  • EDF 2005: Introduction to the Teaching Profession
    A survey course including an orientation to education careers, ethics, and the historical, philosophical and sociological foundations of education. This course has a field component.
  • EDF 2085: Introduction to Diversity for Educators
    An introduction to cultural factors and their impact on education and life changes. Explores stereotyping, prejudice and changing classroom demographics. Includes directed field experience.
  • EDF 2720: Children in Schools: Legal, Ethical and Safety Concerns
    PR: EDF 2005, EME 2040, or C.I.
    The role of education in children's lives through the analysis of legal, ethical and safety concerns.
  • EDF 6496: Teaching and Learning in Urban Settings
    Analysis and discussion of instructional and assessment methods that seek to improve the quality of teaching and learning in urban schools.