Maryville University Dean Named to National Education Commission
Editor's Note: Dean Hausfather may be reached for comment regarding the national Teach Campaign initiative by email at shausfather@maryville.edu or 314.529.9466.
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ST. LOUIS, MO (09/22/2010)(readMedia)-- Sam Hausfather, PhD, dean of the School of Education at Maryville University, has been appointed to a national advisory group that will assist the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) in improving clinical teacher preparation programs that are critical to the enhancement of the nation's K-12 schools.
"Maryville has long enjoyed an outstanding reputation for training excellent teachers," said Hausfather. "The University was recently cited in an AACTE profile as one of 67 institutions featuring high quality clinical practice efforts underway in collaboration with local school districts. In 2006, Maryville received the Models of Excellence Award for School Partnerships from the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education. I look forward to continuing to utilize Maryville's expertise in this area and assisting with this crucial effort to enhance our nation's schools."
TEACH Campaign to Launch Sept. 27
The U.S. Department of Education kicks off a major education initiative on Sept. 27, the TEACH campaign. It will serve as the Obama Administration's chief effort to recruit students and young adults into the teaching profession.
"I hope this initiative will encourage more young people to consider a teaching career," said Hausfather. "It is a rewarding, challenging commitment that provides so many benefits to the individual as well as society as a whole."
Extensive Clinical Experience at Maryville
Maryville University's education program provides the most intensive and extensive clinical experiences of any program in the Midwest. Students gain in-depth and lengthy school experiences throughout their teacher education program. Most candidates begin with experiences at a variety of diverse schools as a freshman; two half days per week in one school throughout sophomore year; two half days and one whole day per week in one school during junior year; and the first three weeks in their student teaching school, followed by two half days per week in another school in their senior fall semester, before completing a full semester of student teaching in the senior spring semester.
Student clinical experiences are tied to blocks of education courses, supervised by Maryville faculty and assessed each semester using a detailed instrument tied to state and national standards. A retention study undertaken in 2007 found that 80 percent of graduates of Maryville from 1999-2001 were still teaching six to seven years after completing their certification programs, significantly above national retention averages. Feedback from area school administrators consistently places Maryville graduates as among the best teachers in their schools, acknowledging the strength of their clinical preparation program.
About Maryville University
Founded in 1872, Maryville University is a four-year, private university located in west St. Louis County. Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of America's Best Colleges in the Regional Universities – Midwest category, Maryville University students may choose from 50 academic programs, including degrees at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. Among recent graduates, 82 percent are employed or attending graduate school. More than 16,000 Maryville alumni work and live in the St. Louis region.