Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Instruction Sidney W. Eckert (March 30, 1928-) was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his B.S. degree (1956), M.S. degree (1960), and Ph.D. degree (1967) in business education from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Eckert taught high school for nine years in Minnesota and Illinois and then served as school and district business manager for Rich Township High School in Park Forest, Illinois, from 1966 to 1968. He held associate professor positions at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, and Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois, before becoming professor and chair of the Department of Business Education and Office Administration at Delta State University for eleven years. As an administrator, he developed and guided the master's degree and specialist's degree programs in business education in addition to administering all other aspects of the undergraduate program in business education and office administration. During this time, Eckert served as a consultant to several organizations, including public school systems and educational associations. He also served on a variety of committees, both as a member and chair: the President's Advisory Committee, Teacher Education Council, Graduate Council and NCATE and Southern Accrediting Association committees. Dr. Eckert came to Appalachian State University in 1981 as chair and professor of business education and office administration. Due to departmental reorganization, he also served in the Department of Management ultimately retiring from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. During his tenure, Eckert served on Appalachian's Academic Policies and Procedures Committee and the University Library Services Committee. Dr. Eckert has published the following articles: • "Prognosis of Success in Typewriting." Business Education World (November 1966). • "Improving Instruction in the New General Business Through a Seven-Point Program for Teachers." Business Education Forum (March 1967). • "A Prescription for Relieving 'Textbook Syndromitis.'" Business Education Forum (November 1970). • "A Darkhorse Medium in Basic Business." Business Education Forum (March 1974). • "Professionalism-Intangible Yet Identifiable." Mississippi Business Education Association Journal (March 1978). • "Time to Re-Assess Our Purpose." Mississippi Business Education Association Journal (March 1979). Eckert also co-authored first and second editions of The Consumers World, Buying, Money Management, and Issues, a personal finance textbook, as well as the student supplement and instructor's manual for the book. While at Appalachian, he compiled the textbooks/workbooks An Historical Perspective of Business and Office Education and A Money Management Practicum: Financial Planning. He was professionally affiliated with the American Council on Consumer Interests (chair of national displays for the annual convention, 1974-78, 1980, and 1981), the Mississippi Business Education Association (president, 1978-79; president-elect , 1977-78; treasurer, 1974-75), the Mississippi Consumers Association (steering committee chair, 1970-71; first president 1971-73), the Southern Business Education Association, the National Business Education Association, and the National Association of Business Teacher Educators. He was also active in the North Central Business Education Association, the Illinois Business Education Association, and the Illinois Council on Economic Education. He is married to Vera M. Eckert and the couple has three children. Dr. Eckert retired from Appalachian State in 1999, he was awarded emeritus status by the university Board of Trustees the same year. He continued as an adjunct professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Sources: Appalachian State University files. -Dr. Richard D. Howe
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