Teacher Education Program Overview

KWU Conceptual Framework

 

Philosophy

It is the philosophy of the Teacher Education Program that a liberal arts education and professional training will produce a teacher candidate who has academic and professional excellence, a strong sense of spiritual and personal well being, social responsibility, and the skills to be a reflective teacher with the potential for educational leadership.

 

Mission

The Teacher Education Program prepares reflective teachers with the potential for professional leadership who: demonstrate academic and professional excellence, have sound personal qualities, have a commitment to education and life-long learning, demonstrate world citizenship, and are committed to faith.

 

Commitment

The Teacher Education program is committed to the selection and preparation of future elementary, secondary and special education teachers who reflect in a positive manner the essence of the mission statement of the University; academic and professional excellence, spiritual development, personal well-being and social responsibility.

 

Professional Liability

All students enrolled in any education course which requires field or clinical experience must provide proof of professional liability insurance in the amount of at least one million dollars.

 

Assessment of the Teacher Education Program

An on-going system of assessment is utilized to determine the quality of the Teacher Education Program at KWU. All students, and those already licensed as teachers, will take part in the assessment process.

 

Clinical Practice

It is the policy of Kansas Wesleyan University Teacher Education Program to place candidates in schools to which there are no personal connections for them. Personal connections could include but are not limited to the following:

 

• Candidate’s children attend the school,
• Candidate’s relatives’ children attend the school
• Candidate attended the school within the last seven years.

 

The candidate can appeal to the Teacher Education Committee in writing stating the reasons for requesting placement in a school to which there is some personal connection. The Teacher Education Committee makes the decision of placement.

 

Placement of candidates for clinical practice is made within a 50-mile radius of Kansas Wesleyan University. If a candidate requests a placement beyond this radius, the following procedure is to be followed:

 

• Submit a written formal request to the Teacher Education Committee indicating the reasons for a special placement
• Assume all monetary responsibilities that may be incurred including but not limited to payment of university supervisor, cooperating teacher etc.
• Provide the Director of Teacher Education with the necessary information to make a placement out of area including but not limited to school district telephone number, superintendent name, principal name and telephone number, university in the area from which a supervisor could be requested and telephone number.

 

Each request will be evaluated on an individual basis. The following criteria will be considered:

 

• Candidate resides in the area requested and has been driving to Kansas Wesleyan University to take classes.
• Candidate plans to live with family or spouse
• Candidate has a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Candidate demonstrates professionalism

 

Clinical Practice Seminars

During clinical practice, candidates are required to attend the Clinical Practice Seminars regardless of the placement. This seminar will be held outside of regular school hours unless the university supervisor decides that candidates may leave their school earlier for these meetings. If that decision is made, the university supervisor is responsible for notifying all cooperating teachers and providing a list of meeting dates, times, and places to both the candidate and the cooperating teacher.

 

These seminars are required for all candidates. Attendance, participation, and all academic work required during these meetings will count in the total grade for the Clinical Practice Seminar and in the decision to allow the candidate to continue in the clinical practice. A clinical practice debriefing meeting with the university supervisor will be part of the seminar.

 

License for Content Areas

Those candidates desiring to be licensed for content areas must follow the University’s approved program for teacher licensure. Faculty advisors and the Licensing Officer can provide information on these requirements. In addition, requirements for content areas may be found in those sections of this catalog.

 

Procedures for Obtaining Licensure

After successfully completing clinical practice and all University and teacher education requirements, the candidate must be verified for licensure by the Teacher Education Committee. Applicants for Kansas license in addition to completing all course requirements, also must meet the minimum requirements of the Principles of Teaching and Learning Test (PLT) and the required content test. Applications for the tests are located online at ets.org and license applications may be found at ksde.org.

 

Title II of the Higher Education Act (HEA)

Kansas Wesleyan University’s Teacher Education Program completers received a 97% pass rate on assessments (PLT) required by the State of Kansas for teacher licensure for 2005-06.