Mar 28, 2024  
2014-2015 Catalogue 
    
2014-2015 Catalogue [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Education


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Chairperson and Director: Laura M. Wasielewski

Coordinator of Clinical Practice: Dianna Gahlsdorf Terrell; Assistant Professors: Kristine Allen, Kelly E. Demers, Dianna Gahlsdorf Terrell, Aubrey Scheopner Torres, Laura M. Wasielewski; Lecturers: James Elefante, Terri Henning, Frank Hoell, Kate Schoedinger, Victoria Stickney, Pamela Whitney.

General Information

The preparation of educators has played an important role in the mission of Saint Anselm College since 1920. The Department offers a state-approved teacher education program leading to initial licensure in Elementary K-6; ESOL (Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages) K-12; or Secondary. Secondary certifications include the following content areas: Mathematics (grades 7-12), Chemistry (grades 7-12), Applied Physics (grades 7-12), English Language Arts (grades 5-12), Social Studies (grades 5-12), Spanish (grades K-12), French (grades K-12), and Latin (grades K-12).

New Hampshire has reciprocity agreements with approximately 40 other states, and certification eligibility is extended to a considerably larger geographical area. It is an individual’s responsibility to contact the state of choice in order to obtain licensing requirements and guidelines in other states. It is advised that the state of interest be contacted to confirm specific requirements that may differ from those within New Hampshire such as grade point averages, testing requirements, and professional experience.

The Teacher Education Program offered at Saint Anselm College is designed to integrate liberal arts general education, specialized content major and teacher education requirements. Our programs emphasize a strong theoretical base and practical experience. Its strengths lie in the use of reflective practice; electronic portfolios to demonstrate state competencies; multiple opportunities for teaching in diverse classrooms; and extensive content knowledge.

Philosophy and Mission

The mission of the Teacher Education Programs is to prepare educators who thrive as leaders in the 21st Century Learning Environment. The Department believes that teaching is an intellectual and professional endeavor grounded in the strength and excellence of our liberal arts curriculum. Our comprehensive programs allow our students the necessary theory and practice to form their work in regard to the ethical, moral, political and social realities that shape education.

Program Goals

The Teacher Education Programs at Saint Anselm College will:

  1. produce quality educators who embrace Life and Career Skills, Learning and Innovation Skills, and Information, Media, and Technology Skills.
  2. foster students’ content and pedagogical knowledge as well as Technology Skills.
  3. continue to enhance our partnerships with our local K-12 schools Catholic and public schools.

Student Expenses:

Expenses for students in the Teacher Education Program are the same as for other students enrolled in the College with the following additional charges subject to adjustment: 1) PRAXIS exams approximately $300; 2) Task Stream web-based portfolio subscription $69 for 2 years; 3) ED130 incurs a $35.00 lab fee and ED250 and ED450 each incur a $25.00 lab fee.  

Transportation:

Students are responsible for providing or arranging for their own transportation to and from the schools to which they are assigned during all practicum experiences.

Content and Major Requirements

All students choosing to pursue teacher licensure must complete the college’s general education requirements as well as the individual department requirements for all majors.

Requirements for Licensure:

PRAXIS Exams (or individual state equivalent):

To obtain licensure in New Hampshire students must successfully complete the PRAXIS exams. It is the students’ responsibility to arrange for the PRAXIS exams (forms/information available outside Education Department). Students are responsible for registering for the PRAXIS I: Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) and PRAXIS II: Subject Assessments PRAXIS I is completed during the sophomore year. PRAXIS II is completed during the semester prior to student teaching. Please see the Teacher Education Handbook for details. It is the students’ responsibility to find out which tests and subtests are required by the state in which they anticipate seeking licensure.

Criminal Records Checks:

The Education Department at Saint Anselm College stresses the importance of strong ethical and moral conduct of those who will be teaching and influencing the lives of young people. The State of New Hampshire requires a criminal records check. All students participating in Field Experiences through the Education Department are required to be fingerprinted and have a background check prior to their first field placement embedded in ED 130  (Sophomore Early Field Experience). Returned background checks will be filed in the Education Department and should suffice for the students’ remaining field experiences throughout the program. However, if a student takes courses out of order or requests a field placement outside of Saint Anselm College’s partnering school network, additional background checks may be required. Please direct questions about fingerprinting and background checks to the Coordinator of Clinical Practice.

Teacher Education Program Procedures

Advisement:

The primary advisor for all students is a member of the content/major department faculty. Elementary Education majors are assigned an advisor from the Education Department. When students identify themselves as pursuing licensure in secondary education, they are asked to submit a Declaration of Minor form to the Director of Teacher Education. The Director will assign an advisor for the minor to complete their plan of study and SEFE application. From this point until completion of student teaching, students meet with their advisor in the minor a minimum of once a semester to insure they are taking appropriate courses and fulfilling other experience requirements. The content/major department remains the primary advisor for these students.

Application to Teacher Education:

Upon successful completion of the SEFE requirement, formal application is made to enter the Teacher Education Program (TEP). Forms and directives are available from the Education Department. Applicants may be accepted, accepted conditionally or not accepted. Reason for conditional acceptance or for non-acceptance will be given. The student may appeal a non-acceptance to the Dean within ten days and present further evidence of qualifications. Please see the TEP Handbook for details of candidate assessment.

Application to Student Teaching:

ED 432 : Supervised Student Teaching is a capstone experience which takes place during the fall semester (Elementary Education Studies) or spring semester (Secondary minor) of the senior year. Additional courses: ED 430  and/or a Methods of Teaching course complete the course load for the semester depending upon the major. Application should be made during the students’ sixth/seventh semester (Forms and directives may be obtained from the Education Department.) To be considered for student teaching, the applicant must complete 1/3 of the electronic portfolio and submit the application form and recommendations from professors who will attest to the students’ competency in basic skills, subject major content, leadership skills, and general fitness including professional behavior as an educator.

An overall cumulative grade point average of 2.5 will be required by the end of the sixth semester (elementary) or seventh semester (secondary) in order to student teach. A sophomore or junior student who has not quite reached the required grade point level is considered conditionally accepted and is permitted to remain in the program to work toward the academic averages.

The decision to permit or not permit supervised student teaching is made by the Director of Teacher Education. Those students not accepted will be informed as early as possible. If the application is not approved and the student wishes to appeal this decision, this appeal must be directed to the Dean’s office as soon as possible to allow necessary time for the appeal process and appropriate registration of the student for second semester.

Placement and Orientation to Student Teaching:

Applicants for student teaching will be given a tentative placement in a cooperating school the semester prior to student teaching. Consideration is given to the requests of the student whenever such placement is feasible and can be properly supervised by the college. Generally, no student is assigned to a school from which he/she has graduated or where a relative or family member is employed. In order to facilitate supervision from the campus, an effort is made to group student teachers within a geographical area. Students will complete comprehensive orientation activities the semester prior to student teaching during a Bridge Experience. All student teachers strictly adhere to the schedule of the assigned cooperating school. Secondary Education minors take the February vacation week as their spring vacation. During the SAC spring break students are teaching in the schools.

Student Teaching Assessment:

The Student Teaching Manual outlines the assessment and evaluation process. Please refer to the Student Teaching Manual.

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