Professional Education ProgramsProfessional Education Programs Strategic Plan Governance The Professional Education Unit is housed in the School of Liberal Arts and Education. The Unit is the administrative arm that oversees the preparation of teachers and other school personnel. The programs in the Unit are approved by the Virginia Department of Education and accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Unit Conceptual Framework The conceptual framework reflects the Unit’s shared vision for preparing quality educators for work in PreK-12 schools. The overall goal of the Unit at Virginia State University, given its underlying vision, mission, and philosophy, is to facilitate the development of reflective practitioners who create positive learning environments for all students. This goal undergirds the development of successful candidates who are competent, caring, and effective. Through reflective inquiry, candidates use professional knowledge to enhance learning for all students. The following definitions are the foundation of the unit’s candidate proficiencies at the initial and advanced levels: Competent: Understanding the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the content area(s). Understanding ways to enhance the learning process and learning environment through effective use of technology. Creating learning experiences and environments that make the subject matter meaningful for learners.
Caring: Showing respect to all learners and empowering them to set achievable goals while maintaining high standards. Demonstrating a commitment to professionalism, continuous reflection, and application of research-based best practices.
Effective: Using research-based best practices and performance assessments to guide the learning process and positively impact the learning environment to ensure that all students learn.
Reflective: Reflecting upon and evaluating research and the success of past decisions in an effort to make better decisions in the future.
Unit Mission Statement Creating a positive learning environment for all students and using evidence-based performance standards to develop reflective practitioners are central to the Professional Education Programs Unit’s mission. The Unit promotes and maintains academic programs with research-based pedagogy, technology-based learning, and reflective practices that integrate service to the community, ever mindful of the students’ diverse cultural backgrounds.
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