School of Education

School of Education

Chairperson: Dr. Nissa Ingraham

Assistant Director of Teacher Education: Joseph Haughey

School of Education, Graduate Faculty: Kristina Alexander, Jeffrey Blackford, Travis Dimmitt, Shantel Farnan, William Daniel Gordon, Beth Gregory, Nissa Ingraham, Alicia Kershaw, David Kiene, Laura King, Tamara Lynn, Rebecca Moore, Gregory Rich, Kaleatha Roberts, Cynthia Schairer-Kessler, Sandra Seipel, Linda Gray Smith, Ashley Strickland, Sara Taylor, and Timothy Wall.

Director of Clinical and Field Experiences (graduate): Gregory Rich

Assistant Coordinator of Clinical and Field Experiences: Cathy Barr

Director of Horace Mann Laboratory School and Leet Center for Children and Families: Breanne Poston

Coordinators:

Alternative Certification/Post Baccalaureate - William Daniel Gordon
Curriculum and Instruction - Cynthia Schairer-Kessler
Educational Leadership (M.S.Ed.) - David Kiene
Educational Leadership K-12 (Ed.S.) - Kristina Alexander
Generalist (Ed.S.) - Kristina Alexander
Superintendent (Ed.S) - Kristina Alexander
Reading - Beth Gregory
Special Education - Shantel Farnan
Educational Diagnostician (M.S.Ed.) - Sara Taylor
Educational Diagnostician with School Psychological Examiner Certification (M.S.Ed.) - Sara Taylor
Educational Diagnostician (Ed.S.) - Sara Taylor
Special Education with Certification - Tamara Lynn

School Telephone: (660) 562-1239

The School of Education offers programs for three graduate degrees: the Master of Science in Education for those pursuing careers in professional education in nine areas; the Master of Science for those pursuing careers in professional education and the Specialist in Education for those pursuing careers in educational leadership. A doctoral degree in Educational Leadership is offered cooperatively with the University of Missouri, which confers the doctoral degree.

Vision Statement

The vision of the School of Education is to provide highly competent professionals who are lifelong learners, reflective thinkers and ethical leaders exemplifying the ideals of literacy, scholarship and social justice in a diverse and ever-changing world.

Mission Statement

The mission of the School of Education is to create learning communities in which students and professionals develop partnerships with families, communities, schools, businesses and other public agencies to assist students in acquiring knowledge, skills and values critical to a democratic society. As a result, we prepare students for leadership careers in business, industry, education, government, recreation, public service, health and wellness.

The goals of the college are to:

• Provide students a strong knowledge base in general education.
• Provide opportunities for specialization through majors and minors.
• Provide opportunities to develop values and ethics within the academic discipline.
• Provide opportunities for students and faculty to collaborate in research.
• Provide services to the community and surrounding region.
• Provide opportunities for continuing and graduate education.

Continuous Improvement and Program Quality

The organizational structure is designed to maximize input from and empowerment of the entire education community. Cross-functional teams of college faculty, PK-12 faculty, and students function to ensure continuous study and improvement of programs and processes. These improvements and initiatives may include issues of importance to the college, such as technology integration, a curriculum which is representative of our nation’s diversity and consistent evaluation of assessment data on program performance.

One source of input for program improvement is gathered from comment cards provided throughout the University and available online at the Northwest website for use in bringing issues of importance to the attention of the appropriate administrator. Students, faculty and staff may use these cards to share comments, suggestions, or complaints regarding an office, school, program or activity in the University community. All comment cards relating to teacher preparation are compiled for reporting of issues and opportunities for program or process improvements to the Council on Teacher Education.

Vision Statement for the Professional Education Unit

The Northwest Missouri State University Professional Education Unit prepares highly effective, ethical, professional educators who possess the knowledge, skills and professional dispositions in order to embrace the responsibility for the learning of all children in a diverse and dynamic society.

Mission Statement for the Professional Education Unit

The Northwest Missouri State University Professional Education Unit will be a catalyst for education excellence by preparing P-12 professional educators who apply best practices to positively impact learning.

Our Pledge for the Professional Education Unit:

Based upon our vision and mission, the Northwest Missouri State University Professional Education Unit serves education candidates as our primary focus in order to develop professionals who:

• Possess the requisite level of knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions;
• Model integrity and professionalism;
• Promote social justice, the inherent worth of each individual, and the ideals of a democratic society;
• Facilitate an educational environment that embraces diversity;
• Collaborate and build partnerships with educational professionals, students, parents, communities, and other social agencies;
• Use technology in a meaningful, purposeful, and authentic manner.

Competency Evidence and Assessment

All Northwest graduate education students are required to successfully pass a comprehensive assessment. This assessment provides evidence to the state and national accreditation associations that educators have mastered the knowledge and skill competencies required for their degree and/or certification.

Education Degree Graduate Diversity Experience

Education degree-seeking graduate students and post-baccalaureate students seeking teacher, administrator or counselor certification are required to complete diversity experiences. It is expected that this will be a meaningful experience through which the student will evaluate assumptions about teaching/administration/counseling in diverse settings and reflect on how the experience may alter those assumptions. The overall goal is to enable the education candidate to observe and reflect on effective educational practice in diverse settings. All students approving their Degree Audit and Teacher Certification Contract are expected to fulfill this requirement. The Graduate Diversity Experience will be embedded in the coursework through completion of a multicultural education course. Forms and information may be found online at https://www.nwmissouri.edu/education/peu/tess/diversity.htm

Candidate Advanced Program Dispositions

Advanced program dispositions will be collected at three specific validation points during the academic program of all candidates in advanced education programs.

The first validation point will be yearly into the education program (either as part of the admission process or within the first 6 hours of coursework) and will be completed by a supervisor who has professional knowledge of the candidate.

The second validation point will be during a midpoint (usually after 9-12 hours depending on the program) of the candidate’s degree program and will be completed by an advisor or a course instructor who has knowledge of the candidate.

The third validation point will be completed by the advisor, course instructor, or site supervisor in the final semester of the candidate’s program.

In addition to the disposition validation points, the dispositions form may be used at any time during a candidate’s program when a course instructor, advisor, or site supervisor wishes to report dispositions which are below expectations. The candidate’s advisor will review the results from dispositions forms each semester. If the advisor finds cause for concern or the need for remedial action based upon the review of disposition forms submitted, the advisor will note the action taken within the university’s online system for documenting student records.

The steps that may be taken are:

1. An individual conference is held with the student;
2. A letter is sent to the student with remedial actions and a timeline;
3. The student is asked to develop a plan to rectify the disposition; or
4. In the case of severe or multiple dispositional offenses, the student is referred to the appropriate committee within the school or college.

Statement of Mission

Northwest Missouri State University is a learning-centered community of scholars offering undergraduate and selected graduate programs. The University is committed to preparing broadly educated and engaged citizens for a world of constant change, applying information technology to improve learning processes, and promoting continuous improvement to enhance performance in all its activities. Northwest seeks to expand access to learning and promote research designed to address the needs of our students and stakeholders.

Changes to programs during this catalog cycle may be made related to changes in certification requirements and/or program changes approved by both Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

All education graduate students are required to complete the following as a condition of graduation.

Diverse Field Experience

The Professional Education Unit is committed to preparing professionals to work with all students. To facilitate multicultural awareness and understanding of issues related to teaching students from diverse backgrounds, the unit requires a twenty-one hour field experience in a diverse setting for all MSED candidates during their multiculturalism in education course.

Comprehensive Assessment

To meet exit comprehensive requirements, students are required to complete an Assessment of Competency Mastery completed within a capstone course. Additional competency exams may be required for M.S.Ed. programs conducted in cooperation with other departments.

Research Component

The student will participate in a research component related to the use of data in the field of education. This data project will be completed during a data literacy course. This research component must be completed prior to graduation/certification.

Program Admission Requirements

Students wishing to pursue a graduate degree in Professional Education in the program area of Curriculum and Instruction or Educational Leadership must meet the admission requirements of the University and unit as stated in this catalog. See admission requirements under specific program descriptions.

Admission Appeal

Students not meeting the unit GPA admission standards as stated may appeal to the departmental admission committee. Appeals should be made in writing to the unit chairperson.

If after a second attempt on the GRE the student is unable to attain the minimum admission score, he or she may appeal to the departmental admission committee. Appeals should be made in writing to the unit chairperson.

Students not successfully completing a second writing assessment may appeal in writing to the unit chairperson.

Unit Admissions Appeal Committee

The chairperson will appoint a committee of three department members, including the advisor, and two professors, one who has had the student in class and one who has not.

The student is to:

1. Submit a portfolio including, but not limited to:
   1. Transcripts of all credits.
   2. A written request for alternative admission (minimum 250 words not to exceed three double-spaced typed pages).
   3. Two employer/supervisor recommendations.
2. Make an oral presentation to the committee including:
   1. Statement of personal and professional reasons for appeal.
   2. Factors or motivation for seeking a graduate degree.
   3. Projected plans for degree completion.

Students seeking admission through the appeal process should contact respective program advisors for portfolio guidelines.

Educational Leadership, Ed.S. Degree Policies and Requirements  

Programs

• Curriculum and Instruction: General, M.S.Ed.
• Early Childhood Education, M.S.Ed.
• Educational Diagnostician with School Psychological Examiner Certification, M.S.Ed.
• Educational Diagnostician, M.S.Ed.
• Educational Leadership: K-12, M.S.Ed.
• Reading, M.S.Ed.
• Special Education, M.S.Ed.
• Special Education, M.S.Ed. with Certification

• Educational Diagnostician, Ed.S.
• Educational Leadership K-12, Ed.S.
• Generalist, Ed.S.
• Superintendent, Ed.S.

• Central Office/Special Education Director- District Level Certificate
• Central Office/Superintendent - District Level Certificate
• Special Education Administrator Certificate Program

• Alternative Certification Program
• Middle School Alternative Certification Program (5-9 Endorsement)
• Secondary Alternative Certification Program