Teacher Education: Overview

The Department of Teacher Education offers two Bachelor of Science Degrees: Elementary Education and Secondary Science. Upon graduation, the elementary graduates will be licensed to teach grades 1-8 as a generalist and the Secondary Science degree graduates will be licensed to teach physics, biology, earth science, and chemistry.

The academic programs are academically rigorous in order to prepare outstanding candidates for the teaching profession. Integral to this academic excellence is an understanding of the Native culture, which is woven throughout the curriculum. It is expected that the values and principles of the Native culture will be embraced and modeled through dispositions reflective of culturally responsive teaching. Both degree programs are designed around a cohort model, highlighting the importance of collaboration and teamwork as necessary preludes to being change agents dedicated to culturally responsive teaching.

After successful completion of the first semester of courses, the teacher candidates are required to take and pass the Praxis One exam. If this exam is successfully completed, the candidate continues his/her course of study completing all methods course requirements. Prior to the final semester, when student teaching is scheduled, the candidates must successfully pass the Praxis Two exam.

The hope is that the Teacher Candidates will emerge from our Teacher Education Program well-equipped to meet the needs of all students. They will learn how to adapt teaching strategies, to promote best teaching practices, and “to be the change they want to see.” (Gandhi) They will be expected to create classrooms where students are finally free to find satisfaction in setting personal challenges with the help of a teacher who serves as mentor and guide. It is our intent that the Teacher Candidate will bear the pride of bringing about a complete transformation in the way teachers teach and the way students learn.