Southeast dean says she's had no word why she wasn't retained

Margaret Noe led Southeast Missouri State University's College of Education through an involved reaccreditation process.

She has shepherded the college through a time of great transition, diversifying its staff and opening up its partnerships with area public K-12 schools. A university administrator heaps praise on Noe for a host of accomplishments, particularly in preparing the next generation of teachers for the classroom.

But her successes apparently weren't enough to move Southeast's board of regents to retain Noe as dean, and the veteran educator says she doesn't know why.

"Obviously, I regret the board's decision," Noe said Thursday. "I think my record speaks for itself and that there is no foundation for this decision."

Noe was the only dean among six not approved for continuance by regents last week. The deans' appointments were continued for five years, while three associate deans will serve three-year terms.

Noe will assume the role of tenured full-time faculty member, teaching educational leadership in the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling. Provost Ron Rosati said Noe is well-suited to the position, allowing her to "best meet her needs and the needs of the institution."

When Rosati told Noe she was being reassigned, asking her where her "considerable talents" would be best served, Noe answered that the best way to capitalize on her expertise would be to leave her in the dean post. She said administrators have yet to tell her why she was not retained.

"I communicated to the provost and the president [Ken Dobbins] that there must be some other reason, that it's not logical, not deserved, it's not founded," she said. "I stand by my record of accomplishments."

No comment

Rosati and board of regents member Al Spradling have said the board's decision, following a standard review process, involves matters of personnel, an area on which they could not comment.

Noe was recruited in 2007 to lead the College of Education and replace the retiring I. Sue Shepard. She began her three-year appointment as dean in July 2008, following a stint as associate chancellor for access and equal opportunity and associate professor of educational leadership at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Her career in higher education spans 14 years. Before that, Noe served as superintendent of Bourbonnais Elementary School District and Elmwood Community Unit School District, both in Illinois. She's been a dean of students, director of curriculum and has taught in public and parochial classrooms.

Among her professional achievements, Noe has served in policy positions for the American Association of School Administrators and on the Human Rights Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. In 2004, she was honored with the "Dare to Be Great!" award granted by the Illinois Women Administrators for outstanding leadership in education by Illinois women educators and leaders at the annual conference of the Illinois Women Administrators.

In a Southeast news release in 2008, Noe said she became interested in the dean's position because of the College of Education's reputation for excellence and the depth of the quality programs.

"There is an opportunity here to make a difference through collaboration," she said.

Conflicts and successes

There have been reports of Noe clashing with administration and some conflict in the department.

"While there is always conflict inherent in any organization, we were able to move beyond any conflict in achieving common goals," she said Thursday. "I prefer to think about the many successes over the years, the new programs added and the strength of our relationships."

Tamela Randolph will serve as the interim dean of the College of Education, and Julie Ray has been tapped as interim chairwoman of the Department of Elementary, Early and Special Education.

Noe said she is capable of filling the faculty position but that she is weighing her professional options.

"I committed to Southeast Missouri. I moved here and bought a home. I looked forward to ending my career here as dean," she said. "It will be a very difficult position for me if I would chose to leave."

mkittle@semissourian.com

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