Mission Statement
As a community-engaged department, we foster a caring community of practice, grounded in educational research, that is
- COLLABORATIVE,
- CHILD-CENTERED, with a
- CRITICAL LENS
to honor and respect diverse families and meaningfully engage communities in a global, contemporary society.
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
We are engaged in research projects centered on various aspects within the field of education. Faculty and students regularly enter into collaborative research investigations to enhance our teaching practice and add knowledge to the field of education. Please refer to our faculty bios for our research interests and publications.
COLLABORATIVE
We are a community-engaged department, rooted in collaborative engagement and service-learning practices. Our faculty are committed to building relationships with school district faculty and students to enhance the growth and development of our pre-service teachers. Projects and field experiences within schools are reciprocal, allowing for all voices to be heard, to benefit the needs of the school community as well as SRU teacher candidates. Both school partners and SRU faculty and students use critical reflection to learn and grow, allowing for each encounter to help shape future collaborations.
CHILD-CENTERED
We are child-centered and grounded in developmentally appropriate practices, with a strong belief in constructivist theory. We advocate for active learning through play and engaging children in a manner that is hands-on, minds-on, and feelings-on. Our courses model these principles through hands-on methods that allow pre-service teacher candidates to personally experience active teaching methods. Through practice and coaching, teacher candidates develop skills and strategies, utilizing child-centered techniques at numerous PreK-4 school placements.
CRITICAL LENS
We are committed to promoting educational practices that provide equal access to all regardless of age, creed, disability, ethnic heritage, gender expression, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. We recognize our duty to inspire future educators to reflect upon their personal backgrounds and beliefs and grapple with courageous conversations that allow growth and acceptance of all. As civically engaged professionals, we are advocates of justice in all forms and promote anti-bias and anti-racist practices, uplifting the cultural assets of all communities. Opportunities to engage in diversity and difference through visits to schools and communities is an important element of our educational program.
Anti-Racism & Social Justice Resources
HONOR & RESPECT DIVERSE FAMILIES
We are dedicated to promoting an active consideration of all families within our teacher education program. We recognize the critical role of families as the child’s first teacher. We vow to honor and respect the diversity of influence among families and ensure that our approaches and activities will support children and their families within a broad range of community, cultural, and custom contexts.
GLOBAL SOCIETY
International Education
We are enthusiastic about presenting international opportunities to future educators. We recognize the interconnected nature of our global society in the 21st century and are committed to broadening the boundaries of knowledge and experience among our teacher candidates. We facilitate face-to-face and learning connections with university and PreK-12 school partners around the world, enhancing the intercultural understanding and social networks of our pre-service teachers.
