A Message from the Dean of Education

Greetings! Welcome to Westfield State College's Teacher Education Programs. I hope you will find answers to all your questions, and if you are a prospective student considering Westfield State College, you will attend one of our Wednesdays at Westfield programs held on various Wednesdays during the semester. Click here to find out dates and times.

We look forward to meeting you!

"Teachers as Leaders Building Learning Communities" captures our vision of Westfield State College's teacher graduates. We want you to be immersed in a learning community at the college and know how to bring that experience into your future classroom. We also want you to find your professional voice and learn how to be an advocate for your students, your profession and yourself. Our programs are based on excellence in teaching, traditions of scholarship, respect for individual dignity, and commitment to social justice. Our goals are to cultivate within our students:

• the attitudes and skills necessary for effective collaboration within education communities
• reflective approaches to teaching and learning that enhance the experiences of all students
• classroom practices grounded in knowledge, theory, and pedagogy
• a sense of ethics and professionalism

The Westfield State College initial teacher education programs are nationally accredited by the National Council for Teacher Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). We are extremely proud of this distinction and hold ourselves and our students to the highest professional standards. Our programs are performance-based and graduates of our programs are able to demonstrate the following:

• the ability to explain, in terms that are meaningful for student learning, the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches.
• the ability to describe how children learn and develop, and to provide learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social and personal development.
• the ability to explain how students differ in their approaches to learning and to create instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.
• the use of a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students' development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills in the discipline.
• the ability to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
• the use of a variety of instructional media to foster student learning, and collaboration.
• planning of instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, students, the community, and curriculum goals.
• the use of formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social and physical development of the learner.
• the attitudes and practices of a reflect practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and who acts ethically and seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
• the ability to foster relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support students' learning and well-being.

We do hope you will consider Westfield State College for your education needs. If you have any questions about our program please call 413-572-5326.