Shenandoah University’s Division of Education & Leadership prepares practitioner-leaders by offering programs of study that conform to the following principles:

• practicing in a spirit of collaboration
• thoughtful examination of the foundations, current contexts and future possibilities of the fields of study
• encouraging proactive, problem-centered philosophies of educational and professional practice
• producing graduates who will be knowledge-driven, competent decision-makers whose thinking is informed by reflective practice
• preparing caring, capable and reflective teachers, administrators, human services and public sectors practitioners

Shenandoah graduates serve as leaders in schools throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia.

Public school teachers’ salaries are a matter of public record, and a search of a pK-12 Public School Division website will yield the salary scale.

Once employed, teachers are placed on a scale that shows incremental increases each year, according to degrees and credentials.

Because we are in a national teacher shortage, some schools are offering hiring bonuses to teachers with specific credentials, particularly in the greatest shortage areas. Salaries vary widely among divisions according to the population, wealth, and geographical location of the division.

Highly qualified educators can anticipate steady employment. Most teachers find their K-12 careers highly rewarding and personally fulfilling. Some beginning teachers find that they prefer to use their education skills and experience in other organizations, and choose alternate career pathways.

The Division of Education and Leadership also serves alumni or other adults with academic BA or BS degrees who find that they are drawn to teaching through job training, life, or the experiences of their own children, and want to gain initial licensure at the graduate certificate or master’s level. Shenandoah University offers graduate education options!

 

The Career Services Office also provides a comprehensive range of services and resources to assist Shenandoah students in their career search. Services offered include resume and cover letter building, mock interviews, and professional dining etiquette workshops.

Career Services at Shenandoah

Classes are available at two campuses or online and taught by faculty who hold terminal degrees and K-12 teaching licenses. Our programs are fully accredited by CAEP.

You’ll construct an e-portfolio, create a Teacher Work Sample and complete assignments that align directly with “the real world.”

Course Requirements

• PSYP 510 Human Growth and Learning
• EDU 510 The Teaching Profession
• EDU 584 Classroom Management/School Climate
• RDG 635 Literacy in the Content Areas
• EDU 640 Assessment Of and For Learning Middle/Secondary
• EDU 649 Curriculum and Instruction Middle/Secondary
• EDU 692 Internship in Middle/Secondary Education in Endorsement Field
  • or
• EDU 613 Management and Mentorship I
• EDU 614 Management and Mentorship II

Total: 27 credits

The number of hours required for the Professional Studies Certificate in Initial Teacher Licensure program can vary from 9 to 27 hours, depending on the endorsement being sought. For students with appropriate undergraduate or graduate preparation, the foundational courses may be waived. The remaining hours are required. The waiving of foundation requirements is determined by the program director.

Students will need an iPad (model 2 or more recent) to complete the program.

Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in PSC Elementary, Middle and/or Secondary Teacher Education Program coursework in order to enroll in EDU 690 Internship in Elementary/Middle Education in Endorsement Field or EDU 692 Internship in Middle/Secondary Education in Endorsement Field.

PSC Program Completion

Prior to student teaching, and as a condition of licensure, the following tests are currently required:

• Praxis II
• VCLA

Practica Experiences: Each professional course requires the completion of specified experiences within a state approved school under the supervision of a teacher licensed in the area where licensure is sought.

Student Teaching is currently a 14-week field experience where you will be immersed in teaching in one or more settings, depending on your licensure field. The Office of Professional Licensure requests placements for you after you complete the requirements and fill out an application. Through our partnerships with area schools, mentor teachers work with you to hone your teaching skills and prepare you for your teaching career.  It is during student teaching that you will conduct your Teacher Work Sample or action research project to demonstrate student achievement in your classes, and finalize your ePortfolio to document the evidence that you have met the Virginia Professional Performance Standards for Teacher Evaluation. You will gather with other student teachers in evening seminar classes to problem-solve issues, share teaching experiences, and prepare for job interviews.

Shenandoah University’s Division Of Education & Leadership provides inquiry-driven, problem-oriented examinations of public education and organizations.

View application deadlines and submit your Shenandoah Application. 

Application Information

 

Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation and a writing sample. Applicants must have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited college. Additional content course requirements depend on area of licensure sought and transcript review. Content coursework in endorsement areas is determined by transcript review based on VDOE requirements. 

 

 

Students preparing to be teachers are expected to meet the requirements for teacher licensure currently in effect in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Most states grant teaching licensure on a reciprocal basis when the educating institution is approved by its own state department of education or when graduates of an institution are eligible for teaching licensure in the state in which they were educated. Teacher education programs at Shenandoah University are approved programs of the Virginia State Board of Education, and nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP); thus, graduates will have met all educational requirements for Virginia licensure.