Education Department Mission
We believe that future teachers should be grounded in the liberal arts and education. They should foster inclusive communities that then work to support and mentor all learners. Teachers should have the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze the field of education and develop a repertoire of teaching approaches responsive to the needs of students. As members of multiple communities they should practice their profession with respect, caring, compassion, and understanding for all persons.
An effective teacher education program must prepare teachers to promote learning and creativity in a changing society, including the opportunities associated with teaching diverse learners. Specifically, teachers should be:
1) questioners and problem-solvers, knowledgeable about both the content and processes of learning and instruction;
2) scholars, familiar with past and current theories, diverse methodologies, and technologies relevant to the education of children and youth;
3) informed observers, able to adapt curriculum, differentiate instruction and monitor student learning;
4) reflective practitioners, with the ability to critically evaluate the reactions and responses of their students, and the manner in which their own actions and beliefs influence the learning process;
5) facilitators of student learning and emotional intelligence;
6) educational leaders who think critically and contribute to schools as communities;
7) role models of ethical and just behavior;
8) developers of peaceful communities;
9) life long learners who reflect on and improve their own teaching and teaching as a profession;
and
10) advocates for students and their families.
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