What makes education in a democracy different from education in a totalitarian state? How do we prepare students in a democracy for a democracy? These questions form the focus of Jonathan Miller-Lane’s teaching and scholarship. He and his wife Karen came to Middlebury from Seattle, Washington. Karen Miller-Lane is a Naturopathic Physician and licensed acupuncturist who practices in Middlebury. Prior to Seattle, Jonathan and Karen lived and worked in the Marshall Islands for two years and in Washington, D.C. for six.
Jonathan earned his Ph.D. in Secondary Education from the University of Washington in Seattle. His research focused on the facilitation of disagreement in discussion and whether the principles and practice of Aikido might help foster facilitation skills. He has an M.Ed. from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and a B.A. in Middle Eastern and African History from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Jonathan teaches TEDU 0318 Methods in Middle and Secondary Education in the Fall and TEDU 0115 Education in America in the Spring. During the J-term, he co-teaches the intensive seminar focusing on special education with John Murphy from the Addison County Supervisory Union. In both Fall and Spring semesters, Jonathan co-directs the Student Teaching Seminar together with Gregg Humphrey and Claudia Cooper of the Teacher Education department. He also supervises student teachers in the local schools. When not at the College, you will find Jonathan trying to start up an Aikido club on campus and creating/consuming good food with his wife and partner, Karen.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT. August 2003 – present
Lecturer, Secondary Education. TE115 Education in America, TE318 Secondary Methods. Supervise pre-service teachers in local schools. Co-facilitate TEDU414 Student Teaching Seminar Fall & Spring and TEDU327 Field Experience in Middle/Secondary Education during Winter Term.
University of Washington, Seattle, WA September 2001 – July 2003
Teaching Assistant: Teacher Preparation Program, Social Studies Methods. Organize and direct weekly lab session on using technology in the classroom.
Co-Director of Masters level weekly session on Teaching as Reflective Practice for secondary and elementary student cohorts.
Instructor: EDTEP 543 Teaching and Learning in Elementary Social Studies. Spring 2002 & 03.
Bainbridge Island High School (BHS), Bainbridge Island, Washington
Department Chair: 1998-2000.
Social Studies Teacher: September 1995- June 2001.
Courses taught: Senior Honors Humanities Seminar, Modern World History, Culture-Power & Society, Citizenship & World Affairs, Contemporary World Issues, Western Civilization, Basic World Civilization, Pacific Northwest History, Sociology. Faculty Advisor: Class of 1999. Washington State Social Studies Teacher Certification grades 7 - 12.
BHS Teacher of The Year 1998, 1999, 2001.
College of The Marshall Islands, Republic of The Marshall Islands August 1993 - June 1995
Chair: Teacher Education Department / Instructor: Social Sciences Department
Courses taught: Introduction to Teaching, Social Studies Methods, Human Growth & Development, Methods of Evaluation, Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Speech & Communication, Expository Writing, and Introduction to Political Science. Developed new courses in Marshallese government and culture with Chair of Marshallese Studies Department. Faculty Advisor - Student Body Association 1994/95.
University of Guam (UOG), Mangilao, Guam September 1994 - 1997
Adjunct Faculty: College of Education
Supervising faculty for two students completing BA Practicum in Elementary Education in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RM I), academic year 1994-95. Taught ED 489 Methods of Evaluation, summer 1994; ED489 & Ed 473 Developing Cognitive Abilities Summer 1996 at UOG satellite campus in Majuro, RMI for elementary teachers.
INTERNATIONAL LIVING EXPERIENCE
Beirut, Lebanon 1961-2; Aleppo, Syria 1962-64; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 1964-66; Rabat, Morocco 1966-68; Benghazi, Libya 1968-70; Mbabane, Swaziland 1974-76; Sana'a, Yemen 1979-80; New Zealand & Australia 1983-84; Majuro, Rep.of The Marshall Islands, 1993-95/Summer 96 & 97.
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
Powerful teaching: Assest building curriculum for teachers. Chapter of a larger compilation of curriculum materials for teachers. Search Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, Spring 2003.
“Embodied Disagreement & Democratic Education: Curricular Implications.” Paper presented at the meeting of the American Education Research Association (AERA), San Diego, April 2004.
“Aikido and The Facilitation of Disagreement.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the College and University Faculty Assembly of the National Council of the Social Studies, Chicago, November 2003.
"Better Understanding the Body Politic: Aikido as Civic Discourse.” Paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), New Orleans, April 2002.
"Bending Back to Move Forward: Using Reflective Practice to Develop A High School Civic Education/Aikido Course." Paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Seattle, March 2001.
"Aikido as Civic Education." Presentation to Council on Public Legal Education, Conference entitled Reinventing Democratic Life: Law, Justice and The Education of Citizens, Seattle, November 4, 2000.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Moderator & Organizer: "Rethinking Citizenship: A Series of Five Youth/Adult Forums", Fall 01- Spring 02. Sponsored by Bainbridge Island Humanities Council, Bainbridge Island, WA.
University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies
Hyogo, Japan/Washington state, USA Teacher Exchange. Summer 1998.
Aikido Instructor, Middlebury, VT.