Department of Education

Chair: Barbara Martin Palmer
Assistant Professors: Carolyn Cook, Caroline Eick, Laura Corbin Frazier, Angela M. Mucci, Patrick Ryan
Associate Professor: Barbara A. Marinak
Lecturers: Stacey Brown-Hobbs, Elizabeth C. Monahan

Statement of Purpose

Complemented by a liberal arts education in a Catholic setting, the professional education unit of Mount St. Mary’s University develops educators who are proficient in content and pedagogy, reflective, and ethical professionals dedicated to leadership in an increasingly diverse technological and global society.

Outcomes

Mount St. Mary’s develops educators who are able to:

1. demonstrate the content and pedagogical knowledge, skills and dispositions to effect student learning (proficient)
2. examine learning to shape their practice (reflective)
3. demonstrate commitment to the diversity, dignity, equality and rights of the individual (ethical)
4. demonstrate leadership as active participants in the education community (leading)
5. respond to the demands of an increasingly diverse technological and global society (adaptive)

Programs culminate in the earning of a Mount St. Mary’s degree. As all Mount education programs are approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), successful completion of all program requirements leads to certification to teach in Maryland and states with reciprocity agreements with the MSDE.

Review of programs is the responsibility of the education department in concert with the MSDE, the Content Area Advisory Committee and the Professional Development School Coordinating Councils.

The Mount St. Mary’s University Title II report, as required by federal law, can be found in Appendix I.
Note: Admission to Mount St. Mary's does not automatically guarantee admittance to and retention in the programs in teacher education.

Requirements for Entering Teacher Education Programs

1. Submit an Application for Admission to the Teacher Certification Program to the chair of the education program upon completion of the 200-level courses in education. For transfer students this may coincide with your admission to the university.

2. Achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. All courses prefixed EDUC or SPED must be passed with a minimum grade of C. Other courses taken as part of an approved program of study may be subject to this requirement, as determined by the education department.

3. Demonstrate your communicative competence and professionalism during the admission interview, earning a rubric score of 2.5 or higher from the evaluation panel (4-point rubric).

4. Score 2.5 or higher on the admission portfolio (4-point rubric).

5. Meet or surpass Maryland qualifying scores for Praxis I (pre-professional tests in mathematics, reading and writing). Students are encouraged to take Praxis I in their freshman year. It is imperative that students designate Mount St. Mary's University and the MSDE as score recipients. Students may apply in writing to the director of teacher education for an extension, if special circumstances pertain. The Education Advisory Committee determines the acceptance or rejection of the application.

6. Upon successful completion of the application process, submit the Declaration of Major form to the dean for academic affairs.

Requirements for Teacher Internship

1. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.

2. Recommendation of the Education Advisory Committee.

There is a fee of $200 for the Internship I program, generally payable upon registration for the first course in Internship I. There is a fee of $250 for Internship II, generally payable upon registration for the first course in Internship II.

Students must arrange their own transportation to internship placements and assignments.

Program Completion and Certification

Only program completers may obtain teacher certification. A program completer is the teacher candidate who has completed all program requirements, including the submission of official passing Praxis II scores for the state of Maryland. It is imperative that students designate Mount St. Mary's University and the MSDE as score recipients. For specific details about seeking Maryland certification, consult the Maryland State Department of Education Certification Branch (www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/certification ).

Professional Development School (PDS)

A Professional Development School (PDS) is a collaboratively planned and implemented partnership for the academic and clinical preparation of teacher candidates and the continuous professional development of both school system and institution of higher education faculty. The focus of a PDS partnership is improved student performance through research-based teaching and learning.

The university enjoys a long-standing PDS partnership with elementary, middle and high schools in Frederick County, Md. It is possible, but not mandatory, that early field experiences take place in one of the PDS sites. However, the standards for Maryland PDSs hold that all teacher candidates are provided equitable access to an extensive internship (at least 100 consecutive days) in a PDS. The Mount’s field placement coordinator, working in concert with the PDS coordinator and building principals, arranges internship placements in PDSs. A mentor teacher and university supervisor support candidates’ professional development toward meeting the Mount’s benchmarks. Upon graduation, students are expected to demonstrate standards-based teaching that is measured through evaluation of teaching performance and portfolio assessment. The department uses the standards of the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) for evaluating student performance. Teacher candidates are also expected to demonstrate the personal dispositions that relate to successful teaching.

Technology

Mount St. Mary’s University emphasizes the integration of technology into teaching as outlined by Maryland Teacher Technology Standards (MTTS). Coursework models best practice in uses of technology as tools to enhance student learning.

Support Services for Education Students

The Curriculum Resource Center, located in the Phillips Library, offers all education students a compendium of print materials to be used in elementary and secondary field experiences and teacher internship.

The Media Center, located in the Knott Academic Center, is a support system utilized by all education students in conjunction with their field experiences and teacher internship.

The Education Computer Lab, located in the Knott Academic Center, is designated primarily for teacher education majors. Students have the opportunity to preview and evaluate software as well as incorporate computer technology in all phases of teaching and learning.