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Christal Edmunds, Ph.D.

Professor, Education

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Contact Information

Education

  • Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, Pennsylvania State University
  • Graduate Studies - American Montessori Society Primary Certification, Carlow College
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Educational Philosophy - Early Childhood Education, Pennsylvania State University

Courses Taught

  • Art and Music in Teaching
  • Assessment and Adaptation
  • Building Family Partnerships
  • Early Childhood Curriculum Planning I & II
  • Educational Theories and Practice – PreK Through Fourth Grade
  • Elementary Curriculum Planning
  • Diagnostic Teaching
  • Integrating Curriculum and Instructional Practice
  • Introduction to the Teaching Profession
  • Methods of Teaching Science
  • Methods of Teaching Social Studies – Graduate PreK Through Fourth Grade 
  • Program Development, Leadership & Organizational Change
  • Student Teacher Seminar
  • Teaching in the Schools for Early Childhood and Elementary Education
  • Teaching Social Studies in PreK Through Fourth Grade

Background

Christal Edmunds, Ph.D., has served as a senior member of the School of Education since the fall semester of 1990. She brings many years of education experience to Point Park, gained through a variety of leadership, administrative and teaching roles. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, she is a supervisor for students in the ABCTE program and student teachers. She has also served as a doctoral dissertation committee member. She was nominated for the Point Park University Distinguished Teaching Award each academic year from 2017-2021. 

Edmunds is committed to being a change agent for creating centered, capable and empowered future teachers. She believes teaching is not just about teaching information; it is about the transformation of the learner. From her youngest preschool student to her oldest University student, Edmunds seeks at all levels to address the whole learner – the social, emotional, physical and cognitive components – through holistic, hands-on, interactive, engaging educational experiences. She engages students in intellectual discussions about diverse philosophies, theories and pedagogies in the field of education and acts as a model and mentor for pre-service teachers. Edmunds’ years of classroom experience and expertise are centered in educational philosophies consistent with this approach, including the Montessori Method, the High Scope Educational Model, Waldorf Education, the Reggio Emilia Approach and Maker Education. 

Partnerships play an integral role in Edmunds' approach to teaching. She has forged relationships with numerous educational institutions to provide real-world experiences for her students, including the Three Hierarchs Eastern Orthodox School, Mt. Lebanon Montessori Academy, the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh, the Senator John Heinz History Museum, the Cyert Center for Early Learning, Riverview Children's Center, the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Children's Theater and Teaching Artists, Mt. Lebanon Extended Day Program, Dancing Classrooms – Mercy Health Systems and Pittsburgh Public Schools, FOCUS of Pittsburgh, Sarah Heinz House and Carriage House Children's Center of Pittsburgh. Her commitment to connecting with such organizations has helped establish a broad range of field experiences for School of Education students.

Edmunds most recently completed professional development in the National Council for Mental Wellbeing's Youth Mental Health First Aid and has become a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor. Her passion for holistic education includes addressing the social and emotional needs of School of Education students and, subsequently, the school-age children with whom they will work as future classroom teachers.

Curriculum Vitae

Professional Certifications

  • Pennsylvania Elementary Education (Grades K-8)
  • Pennsylvania Private Preschool (Ages 3-6)
  • American Montessori Society - Primary (Ages 3-6)
  • Independent Montessori Certification (Ages 3-6)

Selected Presentations

  • Student teacher seminar, Youth Mental Health First Aid Training, Point Park, Spring 2021.
  • "Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children," keynote presenter, Ukrainian Orthodox Spring Conference, 2016.
  • "Developmentally Appropriate Practice as a Curriculum Guide," parent-teacher orientation meeting, Three Hierarchs Eastern Orthodox School, annually 1998-2012. 
  • "Establishing a School: How to Survive and Thrive," Youth Educators Conference, Carpatho-Russian Diocese of Pittsburgh and Johnstown, Fall 2008.
  • "Challenging Behaviors," Project ECHO, April 2007.
  • "Anecdotal Observations as Assessment," Project ECHO, April 2006.
  • "Establish Appropriate Expectations 2006," Project ECHO, Feb. 2006.
  • "Effective Early Childhood Assessment," Project ECHO, March 2005.
  • "Developmentally Appropriate Practice," Project ECHO, May 2004.
  • "Communicating Effectively with Parents," Project ECHO, Jan. 2004.
  • "On Becoming a Teacher," Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Teacher In-Service, New York, N.Y., Oct. 2003.
  • "Play: A Child's Work," Early Childhood Educator Conference, Dec. 2002.
  • "How to Start and Sustain an Orthodox School," Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Clergy Laity Conference, Los Angeles, Calif., July 2002.
  • "Our National Tragedy: What our Children Need to Know," Early Childhood Educator Conference, Dec. 2001.
  • "Developmentally Appropriate Practice," Parent Address, Feb. 2003, Oct. 2001, Sept. 2000, and Oct. 1999.
  • "Preserving the Innocence," Parent Address, May 1999 and June 1998.
  • "On Becoming a Teacher," Annual Conference of the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children, May 1995.
  • "Rediscovering the 'Spirit' of Montessori in the High School Curriculum," Annual Conference of the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children, April 1993.

Professional Memberships

  • Youth Mental Health First Aid – The National Council for Mental Wellbing
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children
  • Trying Together – Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children
  • Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
  • Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators
  • Association of Montessori International
  • American Montessori Society

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