The Teacher Education Unit of Glenville State College, recognized as fully accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), houses initial education programs. The Teacher Education Unit, comprised of both teacher education faculty and content specialists, is strongly committed to its mission of preparing exceptional teachers for the future. In keeping with its mission, Glenville State College continues to maintain high quality programs in Biological Science 9 - Adult, Business Education Comprehensive 5 - Adult, Chemistry 9 - Adult, Early Childhood Education Pre K - K, Elementary Education K - 6, English Education 5 - 9 and 5 - Adult, General Math 5 - 9 and 5 - Adult, Health Education 5 - Adult, Music Education Pre K - Adult, Physical Education Pre K - Adult, Social Studies Education 5 - 9 and 5 - Adult, and Special Education Multi Categorical K - 6.
The Department of Education has developed a mission statement which correlates with the mission of the College but epitomizes the uniqueness of the teacher preparation program by embracing the Skilled, Reflective, and Responsive Teacher model.
The faculty are committed to educating students to be thoughtful, productive, engaged, and responsible citizens. The mission of Teacher Education at Glenville State College is to deliver quality undergraduate teacher preparation programs which meet the increasing need for exceptional teachers in West Virginia and beyond. This mission is accomplished through four major aims.
The first major aim is to deliver quality programs to prepare educators to meet the challenges of educating children, youth, adolescents, and adults to be functional members of society.
Second, the Teacher Education program ensures that teacher educators are employable in local, regional and national marketplaces. This is accomplished through state, regional, and national accreditation of educational programs.
Third, teacher preparation obtained through Glenville State College ensures opportunities to seek graduate education.
Finally, Glenville State College's Teacher Education program is committed to continue supporting the educational community throughout our state through a variety of activities, collaborations, partnerships, and delivery systems which include such activities as the Ritchie County Project, Texas Project; Writing Across the Curriculum Workshops; Health Fair Presentations, Math Workshops; SIFE; Ruby Payne Workshop; Multicultural Presentations; and the Washington, DC Cooperative Tuition Agreement; and Substitute Teacher Training.
The College provides rigorous programs that prepare teacher candidates for their chosen careers in West Virginia and beyond. Graduates of the GSC teacher preparation program are involved in educational endeavors which include service in the following capacities:
Assistant State Superintendent of Schools
Chancellor for the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia
Superintendents in several counties
Principals in the state
State Coordinator for Secondary Reading
Teachers achieving National Board Certification
Teachers of the Year
In addition to rigorous curricular preparation, there are a variety of opportunities throughout the teacher education program for education majors to work with students in educational settings and become a part of the local schools and the community. Through the Professional Development Schools (PDS) model, teacher candidates become active members in designated PDS schools. They observe, tutor, participate in individual, small group, and full-class instructional activities that relate to their areas of expertise. Currently GSC partners with two high schools, two middle schools, and four elementary schools to more effectively prepare our teacher candidates for the "real" world of teaching. The PDS partnership model prepares teachers with a better understanding of teaching and learning, creates more efficient learning activities for the public school student, and increases the likelihood that teachers will remain in the educational system for a much longer period of time.
Within the department, candidates are also offered the opportunity to become members of two educational organizations: the Student Education Association (SEA), and the Kappa Omicron Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society in education.
The Department of Education has a dedicated and caring faculty. Their combined years of public school experience and positive interactions with the candidates are the principal assurances of a quality educational at Glenville State College.
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