By Steven Krolak
(NEW ALBANY, Ind.)—The IU Southeast School of Education has cracked the “top ten” of institutions who offer education preparatory programs in the State of Indiana to issue original initial practitioner licenses.
IU Southeast is currently ninth out of 48 schools, joining IU Bloomington and IUPUI in the upper echelon with 114 licenses issued during the 2017-2018 school year.
The original initial practitioner license is a two-year license issued to teachers upon completion of education preparatory programs. After completion of a full-time two-year residency program, a five year license is received.
“Ranking ninth means that over the last three years, during a time when Indiana is experiencing a shortage of licensed teachers, counselors and school administrators, IU Southeast has managed to continue producing the same—and even a larger—number of students receiving an original initial practitioner license,” said Nicole Owens Wilson, undergraduate and graduate licensing advisor and school placement advisor in the School of Education.
According to Owens Wilson, the ranking tells prospective teachers that the quality of preparation at IU Southeast is established, and has managed to withstand tough economic times. And with so many students returning to receive licenses in school counseling and building-level administration, it tells the community that not only are IU Southeast students prepared to compete with peers from other Indiana institutions, they are also motivated to constantly improve and diversify, investing more of themselves in the field of education and their communities.
As for factors contributing to this record of success, Owens Wilson credits the extensive training that students are required to spend in the field using the co-teacher model, which places them with the best teachers within a 60-mile radius of campus. These clinical educators are leaders in their disciplines, including several who have received recognition as Indiana Teacher of the Year.
This real-life experience, which begins early in the undergraduate program, supplements rigorous coursework led by instructors recognized for innovation and teaching excellence.
“Our academic educators are nurturing and caring professionals who believe in educating the total student, as well as researchers and published professionals who motivate and encourage our students to grasp the importance of being prepared for licensure when they walk out of the doors of IU Southeast with degree in hand,” Owens Wilson said.
Homepage photo: IU Southeast 2018 graduates from the School of Education (l-r) Ellen Davis, Jordyn Stengel and Kandace Fell with Chancellor Dr. Ray Wallace.