Elena Nitecki

  • Professor, Early Childhood and Childhood Education
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  2. Elena Nitecki
Elena Nitecki

Elena Nitecki is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Early Childhood and Childhood Education at Mercy University. Her academic experience includes teaching a variety of courses at the postsecondary level, serving on numerous committees, writing accreditation reports, and chairing her department.  Academic scholarship includes publications and presentations on various topics in early childhood education, teacher preparation, and the impact of the Global Education Reform Movement on the education of young children. 

Temple University, Ph.D., Education

Neumann University, MS, Instructional Leadership, Concentration in Early Childhood Education

Temple University, MSW, Concentration in Direct Practice: Children and Family Services 

La Salle University, BSW

Current research includes various topics in early childhood education teacher preparation, the impact of the Global Education Reform Movement on the education of young children, and STEM education in elementary schools. 

Dr. Nitecki teaches at several campuses, including the following online and face-to-face courses:

EDUC 500: Educational Foundations from Diverse Perspectives

EDUC 513: Introduction to Early Childhood Education: Foundations, Methods, Materials

EDUC 514: Working with Parents and Families of Children

EDUC 551: Language Arts for Early Childhood and Childhood

EDUC 553: Mathematics for Early Childhood and Childhood

EDUC 554: Science for Early Childhood and Childhood

MTHE 542: Enhancing Mathematics with STEM

Nitecki, E. & Wasmuth, H. (2021). The child as “Other”: The duality of the ‘Other’ and the pedagogy of care. In Z. Kinkead-Clark & K. Escayg (Eds.). Reconceptualising quality early childhood education, care and development. Perspectives from the “others.” London, England: MacMillan Publishing.

Faas, S., Kasüschke, D., Nitecki, E., Urban, M., & Wasmuth, H. (2019). Preface. In S. Faas, D. Kasüschke, E. Nitecki, M. Urban, & H. Wasmuth (2019). Globalization, Transformation, and Cultures in Early Childhood Education and Care–Reconceptualization and Comparison, vii-xv. Critical Cultural Studies of Childhood Series. Palgrave MacMillan.

Nitecki, E., & Wasmuth, H. (2019). GERM and its effects on ECEC: Analyzing unintended consequences, destructive practices, and hidden agendas. In S. Faas, D. Kasüschke, E. Nitecki, M. Urban, & H. Wasmuth (2019). Globalization, Transformation, and Cultures in Early Childhood Education and Care–Reconceptualization and Comparison, 57-84. Critical Cultural Studies of Childhood Series. Palgrave MacMillan.

Mages, W. K., Nitecki, E., & Ohseki, A. (2018, October). A college-community collaboration: Fostering developmentally appropriate practices in the age of accountability. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 18(3), 174-188. https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/josotl/article/view/21761

 

  • Teaching Innovation Award, Mercy University, 2018 
  • Online Teacher of the Year, Mercy University, 2013