SFA professor honored for distance education efforts

Dr. Paige Mask

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Dr. Paige Mask, assistant professor of human services at Stephen F. Austin State University, recently was recognized as an outstanding instructor in distance learning by the Northeast Texas Consortium of Colleges and Universities.

She was honored at the fourth annual distance learning workshop of the consortium, which is composed of 15 institutions of higher learning and annually recognizes faculty members from each campus.

"Dr. Mask has developed highly interactive online courses that utilize video streaming, podcasts, self-check and review activities, live chats, and discussion in an environment that offers students greater flexibility while seeking a degree in special education or certification to teach special education," said Dr. Gail Weatherly, SFA's distance education coordinator.

Mask also has been actively involved in the initial pilot phases of the Collaborative Online Resource Environment for Women (Core4Women), which is a Web-based environment developed by Weatherly and supported by the United States Distance Learning Association.

"Dr. Mask has supported the Collaborative Online Resource Environment for Women from its inception," Weatherly said. "She has been involved in the first two pilots of this project, and she also serves as a mentor in the project."

The online Bachelor of Science Degree Completion Program in Special Education was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in spring 2009. The purpose of the program is to recruit and meet the educational needs of paraprofessionals employed in public schools.