Teacher Education

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Chair: Stacie Pettitt

Professors: Cynthia Alby, Nicole DeClouette, Rui Kang, Nancy Mizelle, Stacie Pettitt, Joanne Previts, Holley Roberts, Stacy Schwartz, Stephen Wills

Associate Professors: Roddran Grimes, Olha Osobov, Robert Sumowski

Assistant Professors: Andrea Christoff, Kim Muschaweck, Suzanna Roman-Oliver, Cara Smith

Lecturers: Miriam Jordan

Limited-term Lecturers: Rachel Bray, Elizabeth Colquitt, Mary Crook, Bethany McClure, Russ Merritt, Carmen Woodhall

Partnership and Field Placement Director: Claire Garrett

Certification Officer: David Ladd

Please see GCSU’s Campus Directory for department and faculty office locations, phone numbers, and email addresses, and the department website for additional department information.

Programs

The cohorted undergraduate programs at GCSU have commendable reputations within and outside of the state of Georgia. Examples include the Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award and the Christa McAuliffe Excellence in Teacher Education Award. The Educator Preparation programs also take pride in the coveted Wisniewski Award from the Society of Professors of Education. This award recognizes an institution that has made “singularly significant contributions to the theory and practice of teacher education.” The College of Education is named as one the nation’s top teacher prep programs in the book, Start Here to Become a Teacher. All programs follow the Architects of Change Conceptual Framework.

Admission

The undergraduate programs are offered in cohort models only. Cohorts begin the fall of the junior year and continue through the senior year. Admission to the cohorts is competitive and applications are due the third Friday in January prior to the beginning of the next fall semester.

Accreditation

The John H. Lounsbury College of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

The Elementary Education program is recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (Ga PSC).

The Middle Grades Education program is recognized by the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) and is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).

The Special Education program is recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).

Program Admission

Admission Policy

After acceptance at the University students are considered undeclared majors with the intent to major in Education until they have applied and are admitted into one of the cohort programs that begins the Fall of the junior year. Applications for individual programs are found online beginning in October each year. Faculty committees determine which students are accepted into the cohorts, and teacher candidates are selected based on qualifications. If a student is not accepted into a cohort or if an accepted student does not attend, a new application must be made for consideration for the next year.

Completed applications must be returned to the John H. Lounsbury College of Education by the third Friday in January for the applicant to interview as part of the admission process. All interviews are scheduled in Milledgeville.

Teacher candidates are notified of the admission decision during spring semester. Every attempt is made to notify students early enough so that they may utilize the pre-registration period that term if necessary. Candidates accepted to an undergraduate cohort must have a laptop computer with wireless capability.

Each applicant to one of the undergraduate initial degree/certification programs must complete and satisfy the following minimum criteria:

1. Complete Cohort Application Packet submitted by the third Friday in January.
2. Three professional letters of recommendation using the GC format.
3. Official copy of transcript(s) or transguide (if GC student) including the current fall semester.
4. Minimal GPA of 2.75.
5. Completion of all core areas before cohort begins in the fall
6. Area F in Core completed with C or higher in each course
7. Clear background check including the Pre-service Criminal Record Check (completed as part of the GaPSC Application Process)
8. Documented structured experiences with children the level the applicant wishes to teach.
9. Satisfactory completion of interview by faculty.
10. Must provide documentation of having passed Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment (GACE 360).
11. If transferring from another institution, a copy of GC Admission letter is required.
12. Required forms completed for Pre-Service Certification through the PSC.
13. PreService Certification issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission
14. Completion of all legislative requirements is preferred.

Additional Education Program Requirements

Continued Good Standing in Education

Teacher candidate applicants admitted to a professional teacher education program are expected to maintain a high level of personal, academic, and professional integrity. Teacher candidates in professional programs will be governed by the State of Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators. Failure to meet this code may be cause for removal from the program. Inappropriate personal and/or professional behavior can be cause for dismissal. The teacher candidate’s advisor or Mentor Leader, chairperson of the department, and the Dean of Education are authorized to recommend dismissal.

The following academic standards and guidelines apply for continued enrollment in a teacher education program:

1. A minimum grade of C or S must be maintained in all course work in the program. If a grade of D, F or U is received in a course, the candidate will not be allowed to continue in the program unless provisions can be made for repeating the course so as not to lower professional expectations in the remaining course work and field experiences. One exception to this requirement is the Special Education course. Candidates must earn a B or better to satisfy Georgia HB 671.
2. A teacher candidate is expected to attend all field placement assignments regularly and on time. Field placement assignments must be performed at an acceptable level as judged by the University Mentor Leader in collaboration with the public school Partner Teacher. Excessive absences and/or low quality performance in field placements may result in the teacher candidate’s removal from the program.
3. A teacher candidate must maintain a GPA of 2.75 to continue in the program. When a GPA falls below 2.75 at anytime except immediately prior to the final semester, one of the following may occur:
   1. If a special program of study can be developed to assist the candidate during summer, the candidate may be allowed to continue in the program contingent upon the summer course work raising the GPA to 2.75.
   2. A special program of study may be developed for the candidate, and the candidate withdrawn from the program and reclassified a pre-education major. After the candidate completes the special program of study, the overall GPA must be at a 2.75 level or above for the candidate to apply for readmission to the following year’s cohort.
   3. The candidate may be allowed to remain in the program for one additional semester, except the final semester, after which the GPA must be 2.75 or above, or the candidate will be withdrawn. Readmission to teacher education will be dependent upon the conditions set forth at the time the student is withdrawn.
   4. The candidate may be encouraged to choose another major, in or out of teacher education. The candidate will have to meet the admission requirements of the new major.
4. A teacher candidate will not be allowed to continue into the final semester before graduation with a GPA below 2.75. A teacher candidate with a GPA below 2.75 prior to the final semester will be withdrawn from the program. The Mentor Leader or advisor and chairperson of the department will develop a plan specifying provisions for correcting the difficulty(ies) encountered. The plan must have the approval of the Dean of Education. The candidate will not be permitted to re-enter a cohort or candidate teaching for a minimum of one full year.
5. In order to graduate from Georgia College with a degree in a major in the College of Education, teacher candidates must complete all requirements in the program.
6. Students requesting to take 9-11 hours in the summer must have the permission of their advisors. Taking over eleven hours requires a university petition that originates with the faculty advisor and requires the approval of the chairperson and the dean. Failure to complete and file appropriate forms can result in being dropped from course(s).

Student Teaching Internship

Teacher candidates will have the opportunity for an intensive Student Teaching Internship. The Mentor Leader in conjunction with the teacher candidate will plan the experience for the greatest opportunity for personal and professional development. Placement in the public schools will be based on availability of cooperating practitioners; range and kind of experiences needed by the teacher candidate; and recommendations from other university faculty, district personnel officers, partner teachers, and principals.

The Student Teaching Internship is considered a full-time responsibility of the teacher candidate, and any activity that endangers the success in development of professional competence is inadvisable. Experiences and activities such as week-day employment, additional courses beyond that of the approved field-based program, or curricular activities during the normal public school day should be approved by the Mentor Leader.

A laboratory fee is associated with the student teaching internship.

Capstone Experience (Assessment Portfolio)

The capstone experience includes each teacher candidate’s developing an electronic portfolio of artifacts demonstrating what the candidate knows and is able to do in an authentic context. The assessment portfolio is built in conjunction with the Mentor Leader and peers over the course of two years. As a culminating activity and proof of successful completion of the program, the teacher candidate presents, discusses, and defends the portfolio to a panel of faculty.

Exit Requirements for the Degree Program

All candidates in Early Childhood, Middle Grades and Special Education must meet exit requirements in order for their program to be “complete.” Exit requirements are twofold:

1. Take the appropriate Georgia Assessment for Certification of Educators (GACE) Content Assessments.
2. Complete the Capstone Assessment Portfolio requirement successfully.

Initial Teacher Certification

To be recommended for this certificate, candidates must have completed a degree that includes an approved program in a certification area at Georgia College and have fulfilled the GACE Content Assessment requirements. Requests for certification through Georgia College must be made within one year of graduation.

Initial Teaching Certification Programs

• Bachelor (B.S.) Level
• Early Childhood Education (P-5)
• Middle Grades Education (4-8)
• Special Education (P-12)

Graduate information

The Department of Teacher Education offers the following graduate degree programs:

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) Programs (leading to eligibility for a level five Georgia Teacher’s Certificate (T5):

• Middle Grades Education with concentrations in mathematics and science education (grades 4-8)
• Secondary Teacher Education with concentrations in Art, Biology, Business Education, Chemistry, English, French, Physical/Health Education, History, Mathematics, Physics, Political Science, and Spanish (leads to eligibility for a level five (grades 6-12)
• Special Education (grades P-12)

Master of Education (M.Ed.) Programs (leading to eligibility for a level five Georgia Teacher’s Certificate (T5):

• Early Childhood Education
• Middle Grades Education
• Special Education

Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) Program (leading to eligibility for a level six Georgia Teacher’s Certificate (T6):

• Special Education

Department Contact Information:

Department Website: www.gcsu.edu/education/teached

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