School of Education

 

Department

• Teacher Education

Stephanie Mahfood, interim dean

School of Education website (external to catalog)

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Mission

The School of Education is a supportive and inclusive community of educator-scholars who are committed to providing our students with transformative experiences that impact life-long learning.

Vision

We empower students to become effective, innovative, and empathetic educators and practitioners.

Assessment Policy of School of Education

Demonstration of Missouri Teacher Standards Through Quality Indicators

The Department of Teacher Education's (DTE) Passport is an integral element in the assessment system for initial teacher certification programs. The system is designed to foster the development of knowledge, skills, and dispositions for pre-service teacher candidates in the digital age.

The assessment system is aligned with the Missouri Teacher Standards, which "convey the expectations of performance for professional teachers in Missouri."

In order to complete the digital passports, candidates are enrolled in an online learning portal.

Using a self-directed approach, pre-service teachers upload artifacts and reflections in the digital passports. Each passport is assessed by a team of faculty who assign a passing or failing grade to the passport based on the successful submission of artifacts and appropriate supplementary activities. Where appropriate, candidates may be asked to revise and resubmit artifacts or reflections.

Successful completion of each part of the passport allows the candidate to move through the phases of the program.

Department of Teacher Education

Basiyr Rodney, chair

Majors and Degrees

• Education (BA) with an emphasis in the following areas:
  • Art (Grades K-12)
  • Elementary Education (Grades 1-6)
  • Middle School (Grades 5-9) with a focus in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Science
  • Secondary Biology (Grades 9-12)
  • Secondary Chemistry (Grades 9-12)
  • Secondary English (Grades 9-12)
  • Secondary Mathematics (Grades 9-12)
  • Secondary Social Science (Grades 9-12)
  • Special Education (Mild/Moderate/Cross-Categorical) (Grades K-12)
  • World Languages (French, German, or Spanish) (Grades K-12)
• Education Studies (BEd)

Minors

• Chess in Education
• Education
• Sustainability Studies

Certificates

• Entrepreneurship (Education majors track)
  (In cooperation with the Walker School of Business & Technology)
• Global Education

Special Study Opportunities

Within the School of Education students may pursue special study opportunities which may include experiences in varied educational settings at Webster University's international campuses, conferences, study tours, Student Literacy Corps, and other service learning opportunities and field experiences in inclusive schools, all of which prepare students for teaching in an increasingly diverse society.

Initial Teacher Certification Content Areas

• Art (Grades K-12)
• Elementary (Grades 1-6)
• Middle School (Grades 5-9) with a focus in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Science
• Secondary Biology (Grades 9-12)
• Secondary Chemistry (Grades 9-12)
• Secondary English (Grades 9-12)
• Secondary Mathematics (Grades 9-12)
• Secondary Social Science (Grades 9-12)
• Special Education (Mild/Moderate/Cross-Categorical) (Grades K-12)
• World Languages (French, German, or Spanish) (Grades K-12)

Candidates seeking Secondary Education certification are encouraged to choose a second major in their content area. Advisors from the content area work closely with the School of Education to assure candidates meet the requirements of both their majors and teacher certification.

Admission to the Major 

Students may be fully admitted to the major when the following criteria have been met:

• A grade of B or better in EDUC 2800 Foundations in Education.
• A grade of B or better in EDUC 2000 Beginning Practicum in Education.
• A completed Candidate Responsibility Form.
• A departmental GPA of 3.0, based on all EDUC courses taken.

Admission to Teacher Certification

Students declaring Education as a degree major will pursue initial teacher certification as part of their degree. A Program of Study (POS) is designed to meet the Global Citizenship Program requirements, degree requirements, and certification requirements of both the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Webster University.

Candidates must meet the following requirements for formal acceptance in the initial teacher certification program.

• Successful completion of all sections of the MoGEA exam, ACT composite score of 20 or better or total SAT score of 1050 or better.
• Written Program of Study (POS) outlining the degree and program requirements.
• Completion of a college Composition course with a grade of B- or better.
• Completion of a college Mathematics course with a grade of B- or better.
• Completion of EDUC 2800 Foundations in Education with a grade of B or better.
• Completion of EDUC 2000 Beginning Practicum in Education with a grade of B or better.
• Successful completion of Passport Tasks 1- 5.
• Minimum professional GPA of 3.0, and Content GPA (if applicable) of 3.0. This must be maintained throughout the program.

Note: Grades of C- or above are eligible for Certification requirements.

Candidates must be admitted to teacher certification in order to take specified EDUC or CMAT methods courses.

Students who have transferred in all these course requirements should apply for entrance to the Teacher Certification program when they first meet with an academic advisor in the department.

Background Checks

Students are required to obtain various annual background checks prior to field experiences. The state requires current fingerprint clearance prior to issuing the teaching certificate.

State Assessments

To obtain teaching licensure in Missouri, students are required to complete a number of state assessments. State required assessments are administered by designated agencies, and students are required to pay all associated fees. All state assessments are administered in a digital format. Students must pass the state-required content assessment examinations prior to apprentice teaching.

Practicum

Students must complete a 3000-level practicum in a classroom setting appropriate to their intended content area and accompanying practicum seminar with a grade of B or better. Practicums require 45-135 hours involving observation, lesson planning and teaching during school hours. To enroll in a practicum, students must submit an application by September 15 for a spring placement and by February 15 for a fall placement. No late applications will be accepted. Candidates must meet with the Coordinator of Field Placement prior to applying for practicum.

Apprentice Teaching

Apprentice teaching and the accompanying apprentice teaching seminar are required for all initial certifications. To enroll in apprentice teaching, students must submit an application by September 15 for a spring placement and by February 15 for a fall placement. No late applications will be accepted.

Prior to apprentice teaching students must have:

• met all course and departmental assessment requirements, including formal acceptance to teacher certification status.
• successfully completed practicum and practicum seminar with a grade of B or better.
• passed the state-required content assessment examination.

Apprentice Teaching placements are made by the Field Experience Office. Placements will be arranged with the St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County School Districts along with private and independent schools. All candidates for certification must complete either their practicum or apprentice teaching in a diverse setting.

The Beatrice and David Kornblum Institute for Teaching Excellence

The Beatrice and David Kornblum Institute for Teaching Excellence is an integral part of Webster University's School of Education. The Institute's mission is to support innovative education, program development, community service, and improved teaching and learning with an emphasis on economically disadvantaged minority, immigrant, and/or disabled (at risk) public school children from the urban setting.

Kornblum Scholar Program

The Institute makes scholarships available to candidates working with or aspiring to work with students from low-income districts having diverse populations. Funding is limited so early application is encouraged. For more information about the scholar program, contact the School of Education or visit the school's site in Connections 2.0.