Geri Von Grey

Academics Faculty

Geri Von Grey

Email: geri-vongrey@bethel.edu

Job titles

Highlight

Professor Geri VonGrey has worked in the field of education for more than 25 years. Her experience spans a variety of educational settings, including public, private, Montessori, and international schools. Since joining Bethel University in 2012, she has taught future educators while serving as the Program Director for both the undergraduate and graduate Elementary Education programs. Professor VonGrey's scholarship and professional interests focus on elementary education best practices, social studies education, educational psychology, social-emotional learning, and teacher development. Her research examines teacher health and well-being, with particular attention to professional sustainability, emotional efficacy, and instructional practices that support both teacher and student success. She is passionate about preparing reflective, effective educators who are equipped to create engaging learning environments and positively impact the lives of their students.

Started at Bethel

2012

Education

  • Bethel College - B.A. in Psychology; Elementary Education, 1992
  • Bethel College - M.A. in Clinical Counseling Psychology, 1997
  • University of Minnesota - Ph.D. in Elementary Education Curriculum and Instruction, 2022

Courses taught

EDUC 661 Master of Education Field Experience
EDU 490 Elementary Student Teaching Supervision
EDU 491 Elementary Education Senior Seminar
EDU 474 Social Studies Curriculum and Methods
EDU 476 Intermediate Grade Field Experience
EDU 276 K-12 Educational Psychology and Pedagogy
EDU 273 Primary Grade Field Experience
EDU 271 Elementary Educational Psychology and Pedagogy
EDU 241 Educational Psychology and Field Experience
EDU 240 K-12/5-12 Educational Psychology
EDU 200 Introduction to Education
EDU 201 Introduction to Education Field Experience
BEL 056 BUILD Educational Psychology
TECC444 TEAC444/TEAC644 Teaching Social Studies: Content & Methods

Presentations

McCormick, P. & Von Grey, G. (2024, October) Camp Hope: A promising model of retreat for teachers' emotional and spiritual restoration. Presentation at the
at the 18th Annual Mentoring Conference, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.

McCormick, P., & Von Grey, G. (2024) Camp Hope: A promising model of mentoring and retreat for educators. Chronicle of Mentoring and Coaching, 8(23),
364-373.

McCormick, P, Von Grey, G. & Wanat, E. (2023, February). Camp Hope: A promising model of retreat for teachers' emotional and spiritual restoration. Presented at
The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) 75th Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN. 

McCormick, P, Von Grey, G. & Wanat, E. (2022, October). Hope Theory: A promising path for teacher retention and mental health. Presentation. Minnesota
Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE). Plymouth, MN. 

Vagle, M., VonGrey, G. (2020). Mentoring post-intentionally: A series of provocations. Presentation accepted at the 2020 International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (ICQI), Urbana, IL. (Conference canceled COVID 19).

Sivaraj, R., VonGrey, G.. Markham-Cousins, C. (2019, May) Power of ensemble: Teaching and jazz. Presented at the Curriculum and Instruction Emerging Scholars Conference. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

Paulsen, P., Von Grey, G., Swensen, D., Rasmussen, J., Bonawitz, K. (publication pending, 2018) Implementing professional development days within the elementary methods semester. Journal of Teacher Education.

McCormick, P. and Von Grey, G. (2016-present) Exploring the Occupational Health and Longevity of New General and Special Education Teachers: A five-year study of novice teachers.”

Stower, K., Winkelaar, J., Von Grey, G., Trout, M., Walker, V. (2017, November) Connecting across Campuses: Strength in a Statewide Methods Instructor Community. Presented at the National Council of Social Studies (NCSS) Conference, San Francisco, CA.

Von Grey, G. (2017, October) Professionalism in Action: Professional Development Day for Teacher Candidates. Roundtable Discussion and Presentation. Network for Excellence in Teaching Annual Summit, Minneapolis, MN.

Rasmussen, J., Paulson, P., Bonawitz, K., Swensen, D., & Von Grey, G. (2016). Professionalism in action: Professional development day for teacher candidates. Presented at The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) 68th Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV.

Lindell, M., McCormick, P., & Von Grey, G. (2018, April) Prayer, Patience, and Persistence: Accessing open doors for intercultural exchange in rural Nigeria. Not Ready for Primetime Presentation, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN.

Bonawitz, K. & Von Grey, G. (2017, January) Professionalism in Action: Professional Development Days for Teacher Candidates. Poster presentation at the Bethel University Research Showcase.

Bonawitz, K., Paulson, P., Rasmussen, J., Swensen, D. & Von Grey, G. (2016, February). Professionalism in Action: Professional Development Days for Teacher Candidates. Presented at the Bethel University Primetime Presentations, St. Paul, MN.

Professional organizations, committees, and boards

  • NCSS: National Council of Social Studies Education
  • College and University Faculty Assembly of Social Studies (CUFA)
  • AACTE: American Association of College for Teacher Education
  • MACTE: Minnesota Association of College for Teacher Education
  • American Educational Research Association (AERA)

Hobbies and interests

Professor VonGrey enjoys spending as much time as possible with her family, preferably outdoors. She enjoys hiking, trying new recipes, camping, attempting to grow things, and beekeeping. Their family has one dog and thousands of honey bees. She also enjoys traveling and discovering new places. She enjoys the creative process of making new things. There is always a project in the process, but not always completed.

Quote

Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. John Steinbeck