Section 1.1

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Weber State University Teacher Education Department prepares effective educators who can demonstrate quality pedagogy, master of subject-area knowledge, and professional dispositions; it also provides opportunities for continued professional development in the processes of teaching and student learning in a changing, global society

THEREFORE, WE BELIEVE:

• Quality teacher education programs must be based on State and National standards.

• Teacher candidates must be able to demonstrate effective pedagogy, mastery of subject-area material, and professional dispositions.

• Assessment, evaluation, and feedback are crucial to a teacher candidate’s growth and success and for maintaining and improving licensure programs.

• Clinical experiences and work with professional educators and community members contribute to a teacher candidate’s growth and success.

• Teacher candidates must be prepared to work with individual students and their needs in an increasingly pluralistic society.

• The preparation and professional development of a teacher takes place throughout that teacher’s career.

ACTION PLANS:

• To insure that teacher education programs are based on State and National Standards: The Department of Teacher Education will use the following National and State Standards in the design and implementation of its licensure programs: The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Standards for program and institutional accreditation; Association of Early Childhood Education International (ACEI) Standards for the preparation of elementary education teachers; Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Standards for the preparation of special education teachers; National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards for early childhood education students; and INTASC Standards for the preparation of Utah teachers.

• To demonstrate that teacher candidates leave the institution with necessary and appropriate skills: The Department will craft teacher education programs to model effective pedagogy, work with other academic departments in the arts and sciences to demonstrate a teacher’s mastery of subject-area material, and monitor the professional dispositions of its teacher candidates.

• To adequately assess, evaluate, and inform teacher candidates: The Department will design and implement a data collection and dissemination plan (congruent with NCATE accreditation standards) that effectively collects, analyzes, and shares information about the progress of teacher candidates.

• To insure quality clinical experiences and work with professional educators and community members: The Department will enter into agreements with local school district administrators for the identification of sites and the placement of candidates in clinical settings where teacher candidates will work with quality teachers, work and interact with community members, and be mentored into the profession.

• To prepare teacher candidates to work with individual students and unique needs: the Department’s professional core classes will include a strand for working with diverse students. Clinical experiences associated with the professional core will place candidates in schools where the unique needs of diverse students can be addressed.

• To assist local educators with the opportunity for life-long learning and continued professional development: the Department will work with local school districts to identify and pursue grant opportunities where costs of professional development will be supported by grant money. The Department will continue to recruit and support teachers who enter our master’s of education program.

BASED ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE ENVISION:

• Continued program accreditation from professional organizations congruent with State and National Standards.

• Implementation of a data collection system that will inform the strengths and weaknesses in teacher education programs.

• Continued collaboration and cooperation with local educators and community members for preparing teachers in the 21st Century.

• Recognition for the Department in designing, implementing, and operating teacher education licensure programs of distinction.

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