2006 Alumni Awardees
Outstanding Alumni K-12 Teacher Award
Dan Schab
Dan Schab is a master teacher. For 25 years, Mr. Schab has dedicated himself to engendering in his students an understanding and appreciation of mathematics and its relationship to the world around them. He is a mathematics teacher at Williamston (Mich.) High School and currently serves as Michigan’s Teacher of the Year.
Throughout his accomplished career, Mr. Schab has been relentless in his pursuit of excellence in the classroom. He continually collects and analyzes assessment and achievement data of his students to drive his instructional practices, emphasizing understanding and solid mathematical skills. His knowledge of his students and their needs and his thorough understanding of curricula and instruction whether it involves freshman remedial math or advanced placement calculus have made him among the most respected educators in the Williamston School District. Indeed, his honors are many. He was an Albert Einstein Distinguished Education Fellow in 2003, serving a yearlong fellowship in Washington, D.C. and taking an active role in rewriting Title II of the Higher Education Act. In addition, he was one of only 50 educators asked to participate in the Toyota International Teacher Program in 2000, and the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce honored him with its Excellence in Education Award twice. And in 2005, he was selected as Michigan’s Teacher of the Year.
Mr. Schab has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Grand Valley State University (1981) and a master’s degree in K-12 educational administration from MSU (1991).
Outstanding K-12 Alumni Administrator
William C. Schewe
William C. Schewe has been a leader from his earliest days as a mathematics teacher in Michigan. A visionary and strategic thinker, Dr. Schewe has earned a reputation for his strong communication links with parents and teachers, and for his abiding commitment to the achievement of all students. He currently serves as the superintendent of the DuPage (Ill.) School District #45 in Villa Park, Illinois.
Much admired for his responsiveness to the needs of teachers and students, Dr. Schewe has played a powerful role at the Villa Park/Lombard schools. Among his many accomplishments including spearheading the passage of tax rate referendum, the relocation of a program for hearing-impaired students to the district, and serving as co-chair of the Legislative Education Network of DuPage and the Illinois Task Force on Assessment and Accountability. He also has been a leader on issues of property tax reform and school funding issues. He was instrumental in commissioning a state study that developed a cost-of-living index in Illinois that is based on objective and reliable sources and can be used as a tool in calculating any proposal for changing the funding of public schools. A former administrator at the Okemos and East Lansing schools, he has served as superintendent of Villa Park/Lombard schools since 1996. Prior to his current position, he served as a deputy superintendent and superintendent of the Cheboygan (Mich.) Area Schools and the Ionia (Mich.) Intermediate School District.
Dr. Schewe received his bachelor’s (1968) in history, and master’s (1971) and doctoral degrees (1987) in K–12 educational administration from MSU.
Distinguished Alumni Award
John A. Fallon
John A. Fallon’s distinguished career in higher education has been marked by an enduring belief in the power of education to transform lives. A professor and senior administrator for more than 30 years, he has emerged as a national leader and eloquent spokesperson for higher education. Dr. Fallon is currently the president of Eastern Michigan University.
Dr. Fallon has led three institutions. He was president of William Penn College in Iowa from 1995 to 1998 and then served as president of the State University of New York at Potsdam from 1998 to 2005. He assumed the presidency at Eastern Michigan University in July of 2005. During his tenure at SUNY Potsdam, he was widely regarded for his leadership, which included establishing an institutional management system comprised of biennial goals and objectives and merit-based compensation system. In addition, he is one of the most prominent leaders in the country with regard to the community education movement, which advocates the creation of opportunities for community members from individuals and schools to businesses and private organizations to become partners in addressing community needs. He has served as president of the National Community Education Association and as consultant at the Institute for Community Education Development at Ball State University. Dr. Fallon has also been a strong advocate of the teaching profession and has developed and implemented innovative programs such as the Korean Initiative, which involved the annual recruitment of a cohort of Korean graduate students who studied teacher education at SUNY Potsdam, and the Canadian Initiative, which was comprised of partnerships with Canadian postsecondary institutions.
He received his bachelor’s degree (1969) in education from Western Michigan University, a master’s degree (1970) in educational administration from Northern Michigan University, and a Ph.D. (1973) in higher education from MSU.
