Education

Return to: General Education and Degree Program Information

Ernest Broadwater, Professor 
Linda Metzke, Professor
Timothy Sturm, Professor

B.S. Elementary Education, Endorsements:  (The following concentrations allow for Vermont licensing)  
-Elementary Education  
-Early Childhood Education  
-Special Education - Special Educator (K-8)   
A.S. Special Education

Program Mission Statement

In keeping with the mission of Lyndon State College and the requirements of the Vermont Department of Education, the successful student will graduate with a major in both Education and Liberal Studies, or one of the Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Program Goals

Our goals articulate the unifying theme of our college-wide teaching programs: “Teaching is Learning.” The Education Department program goals are :

• to prepare students to meet the competencies defined by the Vermont State Board of Education
• to increase students’ content competencies through the completion of a degree in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, Liberal Studies, or Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies
• to prepare students for teaching through extensive field-based experience in teaching and classroom work.

To prepare students to meet licensure requirements defined by the Vermont State Board of Education, competencies for every licensure area in our program have been formulated based on qualitative analysis of the Standards for Vermont Educators and the Regulations Governing the Licensing of Educators and the Preparation of Educational Professionals. These program competencies relate directly to appropriate state and national standards. Development and documentation of competencies by students is facilitated by an advisor who is a specialist in a particular field.

Program Assessment

Assessment of goals takes place through portfolio development and review at both Junior and Senior levels. Attainment of all competencies must be documented with evidence presented in the portfolios. The variety of field placements allow students to use practicing teachers in addition to college supervisors as resources for competency development. The consequent combination of campus based course requirements and portfolio development activities results in an in-depth assessment of both knowledge and skills. Nationally established standardized testing is also used as entrance and exit assessments of basic academic skills and content knowledge.

Program Approval

Lyndon’s teacher preparation programs are approved by the Vermont State Board of Education. Graduates who are recommended by the College must apply to the State Department of Education for their teaching license. Currently, Vermont teaching licenses are accepted by many states in the U.S.

The Major Programs

1. The core program plus student teaching and approval of a final portfolio allow students to become licensed to teach in the self-contained elementary classroom.
2. The core program plus twelve credits and student teaching in special education allow students to be licensed as a Special Educator (K-8).  Students who are interestedd in obtaining both a license in elementary education (K-6) and a license in special education (K-8) must successfully complete two student teaching placements. This requires a full semester of additional fieldwork.
3. The core program plus nine additional credits and student teaching in grades K-3 allow a student to qualify for the Early Childhood License (Pre-3).

Acceptance to the Elementary Education Major

1. Students should apply to their major during the second semester of their sophomore year.
2. Students must have completed EDU 2210 Foundations of Education: Elementary and Special Education, EDU 2840, Field Experience, and EDU 3020 Educational Psychology, or the equivalent, with grades of C- or better.
3. To be accepted to the major, the department will review reading and math competencies.
4. A cumulative grade-point average of (2.50 overall and 2.75 major) is required.
5. Students must pass the Praxis I standardized test in order to be accepted to the Education major.
6. Students will be informed the following fall semester as to whether they are accepted, provisionally accepted or denied acceptance to the major.

Eligibility for Student Teaching

Student teaching, usually carried out during the senior year, requires the student to have successfully completed the Praxis I and Praxis II, completed a minimum of 90 hours of college work with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 and a grade-point average for required education courses of 3.00 or, in extraordinary circumstances, demonstrated intellectual competence as certified by the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs. Departmental permission is required, as well as acceptable progress towards “Satisfactory” on the Professional Attributes and Disposition Assessment. Students must pass a course in First Aid and complete the Criminal Records check before they student teach.

Teacher Testing

All Students must comply with current State of Vermont and Lyndon State College regulations regarding Praxis testing for licensure:

1. Passing scores for Praxis I must be on file at the college prior to the first of November before registering for Teaching Apprenticeship.
2. Passing scores for Praxis II must be on file at the college prior to November 1st for registering for student teaching in the Spring semester and prior to April 1st for registering for student teaching in the Fall semester.

Completion of Student Teaching

In order to be eligible for licensing in Vermont, student teachers must receive a grade of “B” or better in student teaching, a minimum ranking of “Satisfactory” on the Professional Attributes and Disposition Assessment, and receive a positive recommendation from the college supervisor.

Second Major: Liberal Studies

Elementary education majors must also complete a liberal arts major. The requirements include:

Students must also take SCI-2310 Physical Science in the Classroom.


 

Return to: General Education and Degree Program Information