Education

General Information
TEP Goals

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

Chairperson and Director: Laura M. Wasielewski

Coordinator of Clinical Practice: Terri Greene Henning

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

General Information

The Teacher Education Programs (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 Programs 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: 1) PRAXIS/equivalent exams, approximately $300; 2) Task Stream web-based portfolio subscription, $42 for 1 year; 3) lab fees associated with ED130 ($35.00),ED250 ($25.00) and ED450 ($25.00). If a student is placed within a school district prior to taking ED130, the student will be responsible for the $25 mandatory fingerprinting and criminal records check, which will be credited back once they enroll in ED130. An additional fingerprinting/background check will need to be completed prior to student teaching at the student’s own expense.

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:

The Education Department at Saint Anselm College stresses the importance of appropriate ethical and moral conduct of those who will interact with young people. The State of New Hampshire requires (RSA 189:13-a) a criminal records check. All students participating in clinical experiences through the Education Department are required to be fingerprinted and have a NH and FBI background check prior to their first clinical placement embedded in ED 130 (Sophomore Early Field Experience). Returned background checks will be recorded in the Education Department and should suffice for the students’ remaining clinical experiences throughout the program. However, if a student takes courses out of order or requests a clinical placement outside of Saint Anselm College’s partnering school network, additional background checks may be required.

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 theTeacher 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 is a rating scale and narrative completed by the mentor 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 mentor 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 Student Teaching:

Applicants for student teaching will be assigned a 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. 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 Bridge Experience. All student teachers 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 Student Teaching Manual outlines the assessment and evaluation and details the start and end dates of student teaching. Please refer to the Student Teaching Manual.

Programs

Major

Minor

Catalogue