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ince May 1988 when its first seniors graduated, WLC’s teacher education program has purposefully placed “servant leadership” at its philosophical and structural core. “That ‘teacher as servant leader’ concept has remained at the center of our program, and is the model we seek to inspire in our students,” said Prof. Jim Holman, director of teacher education at WLC. “We also want them to see themselves as Christian educators who are knowledgeable in all aspects of the profession, who can successfully communicate and lead instruction, and who are reflective life-long learners. But the conceptual framework is centered on Jesus Christ, the greatest example of teaching!” One reason for the program’s consistent, long-standing focus is due
to the tenacity and commitment of Dr. Joyce Natzke, dean of the College of Adult and Graduate Studies and director of teacher certification and licensure. She began her WLC tenure in 1987 as one of the first directors of WLC’s teacher education program. Although Francis Roeder was called to WLC in 1986 to begin the department, he died early in 1987. Natzke, then teaching English at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, already was instructing evening courses for WLC and helping Roeder develop the curriculum. She was called to the college in 1987, charged with heading up the teacher education program. Four students graduated that first year, and all found teaching positions. Over the years the program has grown and
Faculty and some staff members of WLC’s teacher education programming, both undergraduate and graduate, gathered together in front of the Divine Servant sculpture on campus. L to r: Cindy Gut, Dr. Sharon Burow, Dr. David Brightsman, Prof. Marty Miller, Dr. Joyce Natzke, Prof. Joe Du Fore, Prof. Alan Bitter, Dr. Rhoda Wolle, Prof. Mark Murphy, Larry Collyard, Prof. Kristen Schulz, and Prof. Jim Holman.
gained momentum. Elementary education was added in 1992, followed by early childhood education in 1999. The Center for Urban Teaching was created in 2002, an important offshoot of the program. WLC’s teacher education program received an extremely rare perfect review from the State of Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction in 2011. In 2012 special education was added as another emphasis area program, and WLC also became accredited to offer master’s degrees in education. “We’ve made certain that the same conceptual framework – teacher as servant leader – shapes our post-baccalaureate and master’s programs too,” Natzke said. “We’ve graduated approximately 550 students into the teaching profession since 1988,” Holman said. “Nearly 95% of them have had a teaching position in their first year out of WLC. Our students continue to amaze and impress me with their passion to make a difference with the diverse population that makes up America’s public schools … whether urban, rural, or suburban. These students aren’t discouraged by the scrutiny that the profession continues to receive in today’s media. And they continue to see themselves as ‘agents of change’ who will one day make a difference in the lives of the children they teach.”
Oasis 2013 Conference will encourage and inspire teachers to thrive
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asis 2013, a conference being held Friday, August 2, hopes to reach out to all Christian educators as well as reconnect with WLC’s graduates of the teacher education program. “Our sessions and speakers are focused on one goal – to renew and reinvigorate attendees about teaching, especially as Christians,” said Prof. Martin Miller ’94, assistant professor of education and conference coordinator. Keynote speaker Dr. Rhoda Wolle, educational psychologist, assistant professor of education, and director of the Center
for Academic Excellence at WLC, will discuss “Moving from Surviving to Thriving.” Her talk will share the latest research regarding how educators can transition from merely surviving to truly thriving in the classroom by incorporating practices such as spiritual resiliency, gratitude, and guilt-free rest. An anonymous donor has underwritten the costs of the conference, resulting in a per-person fee of only $30. For more information on the Oasis 2013 Conference visit 8 wlc.edu/oasisconference. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 7
teacher education
Teacher education program marks 25th year