Education Department
Students who wish to pursue teacher licensure may enroll in the Educator Preparation Provider coordinated by the Education Department. The Education Department is accredited by and approved for teacher preparation by the Office of Educator Effectiveness & Licensing (OEEL) of the Indiana Department of Education. The Educator Preparation Provider offers the Revisions for Educator Preparation and Accountability [REPA 3] licensure framework established by the OEEL.
The SMWC Education Department also provides baccalaureate degrees (non-licensure) for students who wish to obtain a degree in Education but not a teaching license.
Mission Statement: The mission of the SMWC Education Department is to prepare competent, caring, professional educators with 21st century skills necessary for a diverse, socially just, and environmentally responsible society. The Education Department’s curriculum provides teacher candidates with an understanding of the subject matter areas that they will teach and a variety of clinical experiences through which candidates develop and practice multiple teaching strategies, impact student learning, foster creative learning environments, utilize a variety of technologies, and use data-driven instructional practices. Within a moral framework, educators learn to be reflective, lifelong learners who communicate and collaborate effectively and demonstrate dedication and commitment to the teaching profession.
Vision Statement: Empower and inspire future generations through the agency of excellent teachers we prepare. The mission of our teacher preparation program is aligned with the mission of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC), and the guidelines of the following external State and National bodies: a. Indiana Department of Education, Office of Educator Licensing and Development; b. Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA); c. Program standards of the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) (formerly the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); d. Principles of the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC); and e. Guidelines of the professional societies and accrediting organizations (NAEYC, ACEI, and CEC)
InTASC Standards/Education Department Program Goals (EDPG)
The Education Department has adopted the ten InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards (April 2013) as its program goals and an eleventh goal that reflects SMWC’s heritage as a religious-affiliated institution. These goals define what educators should know and be able to do.
InTASC 1: Learner Development: The competent, caring, professional educator understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
InTASC 2: Learning Differences: The competent, caring, professional educator recognizes individual differences, diverse cultures and communities to design inclusive learning environments that enable all students to meet high standards.
InTASC 3: Learning Environments: The competent, caring, professional educator works with others to create a variety of environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
InTASC 4: Content Knowledge: The competent, caring, professional educator understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
InTASC 5: Application of Content: The competent, caring, professional educator connects concepts and uses differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues of social justice and environmental concerns.
InTASC 6: Assessment: The competent, caring, professional educator uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, to impact student learning, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.
InTASC 7: Planning for Instruction: The competent, caring, professional educator plans instruction that supports all students in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
InTASC 8: Instructional Strategies: The competent, caring, professional educator uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop a usable understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
InTASC 9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice: The competent, caring, professional educator engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to ethically evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community) and adapts practice to meet the needs of all students.
InTASC 10: Leadership and Collaboration: The competent, caring, professional educator assumes leadership roles when appropriate, and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.
EDPG 11: Professional Behavior: The competent, caring, professional educator frames teaching within moral, ethical, and social contexts.
VIA by Watermark
Students pursuing an education degree are provided an account through Via by Watermark. Via is a learning assessment platform that will provide data in an effective way to engage students in the learning journey. Our assessment system is used to help the Education Department maintain its accreditation. Via assessments are collected in coursework Key Assessments, field experience evaluations, Gateways, and student teaching. Assessments and evaluation in Via remain accessible for a student’s future academic endeavors. Students will be provided login information for Via once enrolled in an education program.
Gateway Process: Traditional Program
Baccalaureate Degree and License Seeking
Gateways are the formal processes and procedures for enrollment, progression, and the successful completion of the Educator Preparation Program. A student admitted to the College becomes a student seeking a degree in Education granted from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. The student must be formally enrolled in the Education Department to hold license-seeking status. Upon formal enrollment in the Educator Preparation Program, the student’s status changes to be a teacher candidate seeking licensure in the State of Indiana.
Gateway I Required Materials
All education students will be enrolled in a Gateway I Brightspace/D2L shell at the completion of 40 credit hours and ALL materials MUST BE SUBMITTED by the completion of 75 credit hours (this includes credits transferred from other institutions). Students must achieve and/or submit the following:
- Attainment of a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
- Content knowledge test scores on file for Reading and Math. A passing score is not required, only documentation of taking either SAT, ACT, or PRAXIS. Content knowledge must be met by Gateway II, approval to Student Teach.
- Successful completion of a clinical experience with SMWC with documented evidence of professional behaviors, dispositions, values, and attitudes.
- One Professional Recommendation Letter (InTASC 9, 10, & EDPG 11)
- Statement of Service (InTASC 9, 10, & EDPG 11)
- Professional Resume (EDPG 11)
- Philosophy of Teaching (InTASC 9)
- Professional Communication Demonstration
- Video presentations (3-5 minutes each) demonstrating formative understanding of:
- InTASC 1: Learner Development
- InTASC 2: Learner Differences
- InTASC 3: Learning Environments
- InTASC 7: Planning for Instruction
- Faculty members will evaluate submission materials and provide formative feedback and formal admission to the Education Preparation Program. The evaluation team will determine one of the following:
- Enrolled – Student has successfully passed Gateway I, is a Teacher Candidate, and is permitted to enroll in ED courses at the 300-level or higher.
- Not Enrolled – Student has not passed Gateway I and is not eligible to enroll in 300-level ED courses or higher. If a student is not successful in maintaining a 3.0 GPA or professional behaviors, dispositions, values, and attitudes that are necessary for success in teaching. Students may appeal Gateway I decisions in writing to the Teacher Education Board.
- A formal letter of enrollment will be emailed from the Administrative Assistant (Shala Ingle) to the Teacher Candidate’s SMWC email, and the candidate will be enrolled into the Gateway II, Brightspace/D2L shell.
Content Knowledge Options for Gateway I
Education students must provide ACT/SAT/Praxis Core test results (passing scores required for Gateway II).
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SMWC School Code:
1704
|
Math
|
Reading
|
|
ACT
|
21.25
|
21.25
|
|
SAT
|
532.50
|
543.33
|
|
Praxis Core
|
162.14
|
168.06
|
Gateway II Required Materials
The Gateway II process requires a formal interview with an Education Department evaluation team. The interview may be in person or virtual and must be arranged in advance through the academic advisor. Teacher candidates must achieve and/or submit the following:
- Completion of Gateway I requirements prior to 75 completed credit hours.
- Send a letter of application to Shala Ingle, shala.ingle@smwc.edu to schedule a Gateway II interview. Please submit your letter to the Gateway II shell in Brightspace/D2L. In your letter of application address the following:
a. Why I have chosen teaching as a career?
b. Why I have chosen the specific developmental level(s) and content area(s)?
c. What personal qualities I will contribute to the educational field?
d. What have I learned that I can apply to student teaching and the education profession?
- Fall Student Teaching-March 15th; student teaching application due by April 1st.
- Spring Student Teaching-September 15th; student teaching application due by October 1st.
- Meet Content Knowledge or Licensing Requirements through any of the following (or combination of any tests):
Content Knowledge for Gateway II
|
SMWC School Code:
1704
|
Math
|
Reading
|
Mild Intervention |
| ACT |
21.25 |
21.25 |
No test option
|
| SAT |
532.50 |
543.33 |
No test option |
|
240 Tutoring
Must complete course(s) with 90% or better to meet requirement (before final 13 credit hours remaining).
|
P-3:Praxis Early Childhood Assessment Mathematics and Science
(5028)
|
P-3: Praxis Early Childhood Assessment Reading, Language Arts and Social Studies
(5027) |
No test option |
|
K-6: Praxis Elementary Education Assessment Mathematics and Science(5008) |
K-6:Praxis Elementary Education Assessment Reading, Language Arts and Social Studies
(5007) |
Special Education Core Knowledge Mild to Moderate Applications (5543) |
|
Licensure Tests
|
STEM Subtest:
Math and Science
P-3 (5028)
K-6 (5008)
|
Humanities Subtest:
Reading, Language Arts & Social Studies
P-3 (5027)
K-6 (5007)
|
Core Knowledge
Mild to Moderate Applications
P-3 and K-6 (5543)
|
Gateway III
Successful completion of student teaching and all requirements. BS/BA or certificate awarded.
Gateway IV
Successfully completing all applicable licensure tests and submitting all materials to the LVIS portal.
______________________________________________________________________________
*The SMWC Education Department reserves the right to update Content knowledge scores relative to accreditation and licensing requirements. Please keep in close contact with your advisor for changes in this information.
**see ED Gateway I Enrollment Site document descriptions for directions and document codes.
***The Gateway II interview will not be held until all the aforementioned items have been submitted.
Grading Policy
The grade of “C” or better must be obtained in all courses required for the major.
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100-95=A
|
79-77=C
|
|
94-92=A-
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76-74=C-
|
|
91-89=B+
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73-70=D+
|
|
88-86=B
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69-66=D
|
|
85-83=B-
|
|
|
82-80=C+
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65 and below=F
|
Clinical Experiences, Field, Practicum, and Student Teaching
The Teacher Education Program includes numerous opportunities for teacher candidates to gain valuable hands-on teaching experience through a series of supervised clinical experiences: field, practicum, and student teaching. The Field & Student Teaching Placements Coordinator secures all placements for teacher candidates. Teacher candidates do not arrange placements and are expected to adhere to the Clinical Placement Policies of the Education Department. To facilitate adequate supervision, all clinical experiences (field, practicum, and student teaching) must be completed in Indiana or Illinois. Teacher candidates are responsible for arranging transportation to the placement site.
The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) Education Department is committed to both the students of the college and the students and teachers of our partnering schools and agencies. It is our responsibility to ensure that clinical experiences (field, practicum, and student teaching) are mutually beneficial to SMWC students and the teachers and students of the schools and/or agencies in which they take place. For these reasons, the faculty of the SMWC Education Department reserves the right to deny a clinical experience: field, practicum, and/or student teaching placement; change a clinical experience: field, practicum, and/or student teaching placement; remove or withdraw a student from a field, practicum, and/or student teaching placement; and/or cancel a field, practicum, and/or student teaching placement for the reasons of health, safety, and/or professional behaviors.
When planning for a clinical experience, it is important that students make financial and family arrangements. This is a full-time, unpaid experience in the classroom/center.
Authorization to Release Information Form
Students must complete an authorization to release education record form prior to beginning a clinical placement. Failure to do so will delay the placement process.
Background Check Policy
In adhering to state and local guidelines for an expanded criminal history check, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College requires all students enrolled in the teacher education program to complete a criminal history background check prior to beginning any clinical placement including observations, fields, practica, and student teaching.
The college uses CastleBranch to meet requirements for all clinical placements.
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will require an initial expanded background check (AI36) prior to any clinical placement that will be valid for two years.
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will require a recheck package (AI36re) following the expiration of the initial background check.
This background check & fingerprint must include the following: search of records maintained by all counties in which the individual resided, a national criminal history background check, sex offender registries in all 50 states or the national sex offender registry maintained by the United States Department of Justice.
All clinical experiences are subject to the background check requirements and policies of the school corporation or experience site in which the teacher candidate is placed. SMWC education major students must contact the school corporation in which they are placed to verify their criminal history/background check policy. Any additional background check requirements will be completed at the student’s expense.
Should the criminal history report indicate any offense, the teacher candidate will not be permitted to begin the clinical experience until the candidate provides documentation (e.g., court records) indicating that the offense is not a felony or a penalty that would prohibit issuance of a teaching license in the State of Indiana. The teacher candidate is responsible for obtaining documentation, records, and paying any associated fees. All cases are subject to individual review and decision of the Teacher Education Board. The Education Department reserves the right to change vendors for the criminal background check.
Professionalism
Teacher candidates are expected to project a professional image that reflects appropriate dress, conduct, and code of ethics. The Education Department has a dress code that is required for all candidates participating in clinical experiences. The Teacher Education Board has the obligation to terminate the clinical experience at any time that a student no longer satisfies the requirements for the clinical experience.
Teacher Licensure Requirements
The Licensing Advisor is the approved liaison with the OEEL and the Indiana Department of Education. The Licensing Advisor is responsible for processing all applications for initial teacher licensure which includes verification that applicants have successfully completed all Educator Preparation Program requirements, including field experiences, student teaching, practicum, and seminar requirements.
When submitting an application for teacher licensure for processing, the teacher candidate should submit materials online through the Indiana Teacher Online Licensing System (LVIS) at doe.in.gov/educatorlicensing/.
Out-of-State Licensure
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Education Department licensure route programs are approved by the Indiana Department of Education. Completing one of these programs, as well as meeting all currently approved Indiana licensure requirements, leads to teacher licensure ONLY in the State of Indiana.
Alternate Programs
Alternate programs are shorter but more intensive licensure programs. These programs are designed for applicants who have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and desire to obtain a special education teaching license. Alternate programs prepare students for Exceptional Needs: Mild Intervention licensure for either the P-12, K-6 setting or the 5-12 setting. Along with other requirements, enrollment in Alternate programs requires demonstration of content knowledge. Program completion, content testing, and other requirements per the state of Indiana are required before licensure.
Transition to Teaching Programs
Transition to Teaching Programs are shorter but more intensive licensure programs. These programs are designed for applicants who have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and desire to obtain a teaching license. Transition to Teaching programs prepare students for either elementary generalist (K-6 setting) or secondary content (5-12 setting) licensure. To be admitted to a Transition to Teaching program without content testing, an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or 2.5 with five years of experience) is required, and for the 5-12 setting, the degree must match the content area intended for licensure. If an applicant does not meet the GPA/work experience criteria and/or holds a non-matching degree to content area, they will be required to pass the appropriate content exam(s) prior to enrollment. A graduate degree in the content area is another route for enrollment without content testing for the 5-12 program. Along with other requirements, enrollment in Transition to Teaching programs requires demonstration of content knowledge. Program completion, content testing, and other requirements per the state of Indiana are required before licensure.
Career Center
The Career Center (CC) staff works directly with Education majors throughout the Educator Preparation Program to assist students on how to prepare resumes and cover letters, search for employment, and interview for positions. Students can access career resources through the Online Career Center (career.smwc.edu) and the Career D2L resource site. Students can also receive personal assistance by contacting the CC at (812) 535-5188 or career@smwc.edu. Information regarding teaching position vacancies is available throughout the year, and the CC is available to assist teacher candidates and alumni seeking positions.
Learning Resource Center
The Learning Resource Center (LRC), located in Rooney Center, offers Content knowledge preparation materials in addition to online and campus tutoring assistance.
Education Programs
Credit hours for graduation: Please note the number of credit hours required for graduation from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is 120 total credit hours. Students enrolled in the College are held to the number of credit hours required based on the date of their admission to the College.
Students may find that even though they have enough credits for graduation, often program requirements still need to be met for the degree which they are seeking. Additionally, students may have met all the program requirements but still need to meet the College requirement of 120 credit hours for graduation.
SMWC offers baccalaureate degree programs that prepare teacher candidates to obtain an Indiana initial teaching license: REPA 3 (Revisions for Educator Preparation and Accountability).