Education

General Information
TEP Goals

Teacher Education Program Procedures
Go to Majors/Minors and Course Offerings

Chairperson: Dianna Gahlsdorf Terrell
Director of Teacher Education: Laura M. Wasielewski

Coordinator of Clinical Practice: Melissa Lear

Associate Professors: Kelly E. Demers, Dianna Gahlsdorf Terrell, Aubrey Scheopner Torres, Laura M. Wasielewski; Assistant Professor: Diana Sherman, Lecturers: John Boucher, Caroline Herold, Frank Hoell, Denis Jobin, Ed Joyce, Dan LaFleur, Erin Milem, Kathleen Murphy, Amy Woods.

General Information

The Teacher Education Program (TEP) offered at Saint Anselm College are designed to integrate a liberal arts general education, specialized content major, and teacher preparation requirements. The TEP emphasizes a strong theoretical base and practical experience. Strengths are in the integration of reflective practice, multiple opportunities for teaching in diverse classrooms, and deep content knowledge/exposure. The mission of the Teacher Education Program is to prepare educators who thrive as leaders in the 21st Century learning environment. The Education Department believes that teaching is an intellectual and professional endeavor grounded in the strength and excellence of our liberal arts curriculum. Our comprehensive programs provide our students with the necessary theory and practice to form their work with regard to the ethical, moral, political, and social realities that shape education. The Department offers a state-approved teacher education program (TEP) leading to initial certification in::

Elementary K-6

ESOL (Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages) K-12

Mathematics (grades 7-12)

Chemistry (grades 7-12)

Applied Physics (grades 7-12)

Life Science (grades 7-12)

English Language Arts (grades 5-12)

Social Studies (grades 5-12)

Spanish (grades K-12)

French (grades K-12)

Latin (grades K-12)

Visual Arts (grades K-12)

Music (grades K-12)

TEP Goals

The TEP at Saint Anselm College will:

Produce quality educators who embrace life and career skills, learning and innovation skills, and information, media, and technology skills
Foster students’ content and pedagogical knowledge as well as reflective practice skills
Continue to enhance our partnerships with local k-12 urban, suburban, and Catholic 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: Praxis or equivalent exams, approximately $300.

Transportation:

Students are responsible for providing or arranging for their own transportation to and from the schools to which they are assigned during all clinical experiences. However, students will be placed with other students in the same school and may be able to share transportation.

Criminal Records Checks:

Saint Anselm College has a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure that all candidates from our programs which culminate in clinical placements in K-12 schools are safe to be around children. Therefore, Saint Anselm College teacher candidates must meet the state of New Hampshire and Saint Anselm College criminal background and fingerprint check pursuant to RSA 189:13-a,[1] to remain a qualified candidate for teacher certification. All candidates must submit to a criminal history records check via a fingerprint check as a pre-requisite for participation in clinical field placements embedded within Education courses. See the Teacher Education Handbook for the complete Fingerprint and Background Check Policy for Teacher Education Candidates.

Teacher Education Program Procedures

Advisement:

Elementary Education majors are assigned an advisor from the Education Department. Secondary education majors have two advisors, one in their content major and one in education. All students meet with their advisor a minimum of once a semester to ensure they are taking appropriate courses and fulfilling other requirements (clinical and assessment). The Education Department uses a cohort model of advising, advising the same group of students for four years.

Application to the Teacher Education Program:

Students apply to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) in their sophomore year after completing the sophomore early field experience (SEFE). SEFE is an opportunity for both the candidate and the TEP to determine if the candidate is a good match for teaching.

The Director of TEP evaluates each application, reviews the following materials, and assesses the following criteria:

SEFE evaluation -The SEFE evaluation consists of a rating scale and narrative completed by the k-12 cooperating teacher. The student must receive a consistent 3-5 rating on a 1-5 scale.
Cumulative grade point average (gpa) -Acceptable criteria is a minimum 2.5 gpa. If the cumulative gpa is between 2.3 and 2.5, the candidate may be conditionally accepted. The gpa will be re-evaluated for acceptance when the student applies for student teaching.
Praxis Core Academic Skills Test for Educators or equivalent exam scores - Passing scores are required for entrance into the TEP. Refer to the Testing Requirements for Certification Instruction Packet for details of testing requirements.
Education coursework - Education coursework must be at a grade C or better.
Professional skills - Demonstrated professional skills and reflective practice in SEFE are documented by the course instructor and/or cooperating teacher.

Applicants may be accepted, accepted conditionally, or not accepted based on the criteria for acceptance. Reason for conditional acceptance or for non-acceptance will be given. The student may appeal a non-acceptance to the Dean within 10 days and present further evidence of qualifications. Please refer to the TEP Handbook for details of candidate assessment. Forms and directives are available from the Education Department.

Application to Student Teaching:

ED 432: Supervised Student Teaching is a capstone clinical experience that takes place during the fall semester (Elementary Education Studies) or spring semester (Secondary Education major) of the senior year. Qualified students apply for student teaching in December of their junior year.The Director of TEP reviews each candidate file and unofficial transcript. The Director of TEP evaluates each application, determines whether all requirements have been completed, and assesses the following criteria:

Cumulative gpa – Acceptable criteria is a minimum gpa of 2.5 by the end of their 6th semester
References – Acceptable criteria is a consistent rating of average or above average on leadership, character, academic, professional behavior and communication skills from 6 on campus references.
Education coursework– Education coursework must be at a grade C or better.
Clinical Experiences - Demonstrated professional skills and reflective practice in SEFE are documented by the course instructor and/or mentor teacher.

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. Refer to the Teacher Education Handbook for details about the appeal process.

Placement and Orientation to Clinical Capstone: Supervised Student Teaching

Applicants to the Clinical Capstone: Supervised Student Teaching experience will be assigned a placement in a cooperating school the semester prior to the teaching internship. Consideration is given to the requests of the student whenever such placement is feasible and can be properly supervised by the College. Applicants will not be 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 20-hour Bridge Experience. All teacher interns strictly adhere to the schedule of the assigned cooperating school. Secondary Education majors take the February vacation week as their spring vacation and not the Saint Anselm College spring break. During the Saint Anselm College spring break, students are teaching in the schools. The Teaching Internship Manual outlines the assessment and evaluation and details the start and end dates of student teaching. Please refer to the Teaching Internship Manual.

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