by Summer L. Douglass
Staff Writer
Lee Canter, the newest member of the faculty at the University of La Verne, has been named “Distinguished Visiting Professor of Education,” by President Stephen Morgan in a University press release.
Canter is organizing a course on mentoring skills at ULV. He is also writing a classroom management course for the Graduate Program in Education, to further each student’s ability to effectively manage a classroom.
Also, Canter taught one class for this summer for the School of Continuing Education.
Canter founded Canter and Associates, Inc. and Canter Educational Productions, Inc. in 1976. The creation of these organizations soon led to the concepts that have successfully trained over 1 million teachers and administrators.
Canter is the founder of the Classroom Management Techniques concept, and has written and co-authored many programs and instructional books for use in the field of education. Canter also specializes in school safety and parental involvement techniques.
“One recommendation the students have is that they would like more instruction on classroom management skills,” said Tom McGuire, the chair of the Education Department. “For beginning teachers, that is their biggest challenge.”
“Teaching Students to Get Along,” which Canter wrote with the help of Katia Peterson, and “Scared or Prepared; Creating Safe Schools,” which was written by Canter and Ron Garrison, are two examples of the ideas that Canter’s programs are based on.
Canter has also developed programs in “Assertive Discipline,” “Teachers and Students Getting Along” and “Succeeding With Difficult Students.”
Canter has written more than 25 articles that have been featured in state and national publications on subjects including classroom management and school safety.
He also writes a monthly column on parental involvement for “Learning Magazine,” which he started in 1997.
Graduate education courses at many colleges and universities are based on the theories and programs created by Canter.
Some of these institutions include the University of Alaska, University of Utah, Long Island University, George Washington University, and California State University, Fullerton.
These programs have been extremely successful in preparing students for their careers as educators. Because of their success, the programs are now promoted in Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia.
“The most important thing students get out of our Teacher Education Program is the ability to establish strong, positive relationships with students,” said McGuire.
“That’s the cornerstone of our program, and that is exactly what Lee is expressing in his workshops-student-teacher relationships.”
Canter has been the featured speaker at over 100 national and state conferences, and he has also successfully executed over 200, one to five-day training programs for students and teachers.
“I want to focus my career on working with teachers,” said Canter, “and La Verne has a first rate teacher training program .”
Canter received his bachelor’s in history from California State University, Northridge. He went on to receive his master’s in social work from the University of Southern California.
Canter started as a clinical social worker in 1970. In this capacity, he was responsible for the mental health of children in schools within various counties located in the counties of Los Angeles, Monterey and Orange County.
Summer L. Douglass
