MBCNews
Leading Learning New College of Education Aligns Resources, Improves Visibility urning out exceptional teachers was one of the primary goals during Mary Baldwin’s early years as a seminary, and education continues to be among the college’s most popular and best-known programs. Recent efforts to align the undergraduate, graduate, and professional arms of the discipline in a College of Education highlight the program’s strengths and pool resources to train first-class educators for the classroom and other diverse learning environments. “Our most important goal is to deliver the highest quality instruction possible through the most effective programs, and to make the path clear for all of our education students,” said Rachel Potter, dean of the College of Education. Officially launched in August with the start of the 2014–15 academic year, the College of Education includes multiple programs that have been part of education at MBC for several years: an undergraduate degree with teacher licensure; master of arts in teaching (MAT); master of education (MEd); post-baccalaureate teacher licensure (PBTL); and non-licensure certificate and professional development offerings. While the new model consolidates resources and streamlines curriculum development processes, the most important outcomes include aligning personnel to best serve students and elevating a longtime strength into a flagship program. A new interdisciplinary major approved in spring 2014, liberal arts and educational studies, provides a new route
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for undergraduate students to pursue Virginia teacher licensure. The major is most appropriate for students seeking an elementary education endorsement, because “they have to be skilled generalists in the classroom,” Potter said. The college encourages students to become endorsed in areas with the highest demand in Virginia, such as special education and secondary math and science. MBC
“MBC inspired me to be teachable, knowledgeable, and adaptable in the rapidly changing educational climate. Professors and teaching partners modeled ways to establish and build truly collaborative relationships with students, parents, and other educational professionals,” said Roth, who also completed the Comprehensive Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders through Mary Baldwin. Under the new College of Education, all education faculty will have a voice on policy and instructional goals that influence the undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs. New faculty hires will be brought in based on their expertise, not which program they will teach in or facilitate, Potter explained. This all-institution focus has already played out with two recently hired instructors: Pamela Bailey, a secondary mathematics professor based in MBC’s Richmond regional center, and Emily Ely, a reading and literacy specialist who primarily works with students in Staunton. Another driving force for establishing the College of Education was to better support a common experience for all education students at Mary Baldwin that enhances inquiry and reflection, theory and practice, and exploration and innovation. This change may also encourage more students to earn both an undergraduate and graduate degree at MBC through the BA/MAT and BA/MEd paths. “Higher standards in education and increased demands placed on teachers require us to be highly trained,” Roth said. “MBC provided the highest quality of collaborative instruction and learning photo by lindsey walters
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is also developing an add-on endorsement in English as a Second Language, which is a growing need in the Shenandoah Valley. Recent expansion in the MEd has included adding concentrations in Adult and Higher Education and Applied Behavior Analysis. Monica Roth earned an endorsement in special education — currently the education program’s second most popular area — with her MAT in 2013. In addition to methods specific to her field, Roth says that the most valuable skills she learned were how to adapt and collaborate.
of all MBC education program completers earn passing scores on Virginia licensure assessments.
