LONG A CORNERSTONE OF THE NEW PALTZ

tradition of academic excellence, the School of Education is committed to the preparation of skilled and dedicated teachers. Today, the School of Education continues its legacy of preparing professionals who are committed to innovative curricula, evidence-based instructional approaches, culturally responsive practices and social justice.

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

programs build on a foundation of liberal arts and science courses. Students complement pedagogical learning with subject matter expertise in their chosen academic major. Partnerships with the Mid-Hudson School Study Council, the Mid-Hudson Teacher Center, the Master Teacher Program, and numerous districts and BOCES in the region, as well as our own Center for Literacy and Science of Reading Center, make our program rich in clinical experiences and mentorship from experienced master teachers.

FIELDWORK

Field experiences increase your knowledge of the classroom and help prepare you for student teaching. Fieldwork also allows teacher candidates to start developing professional networks that will serve you well when beginning the job search process. Requirements vary depending on the major, but all students will complete at least two semesters of fieldwork totaling a minimum of 100 hours of classroom experience.

THE STUDENT- TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Teacher candidates complete a semester of student teaching in their final semester of study. This is the opportunity most teacher candidates have been waiting for— the chance to apply their knowledge and skills in the actual classroom setting. Each studentteaching experience is unique to the individual, but all teacher candidates complete two different placements within one academic semester.

SUPPORTING EXCELLENT TEACHING

SUNY New Paltz offers a range of modern learning spaces, including the Sojourner Truth Library, state-of-the-art computer labs, art studios, theaters, language centers and media facilities, all providing an environment conducive to effective study.

THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY

The School of Education has developed strong partnerships with school districts in the Hudson Valley as well as in New York City. Our alumni are educators and school leaders throughout the region. Each spring, school districts participate in Teacher Recruitment Day, which connects teacher candidates at New Paltz with school districts that are hiring right now. Typically, more than 50 school districts conduct on- and off-site interviews.

The School of Education is one of the leading teacher-preparation institutions in the state.

Chances are, if you attended school in Long Island, New York, the Hudson Valley or the Capital District, you’ve been in a class with at least one of our program alumni (and probably many more!).

Our faculty and staff are dedicated to preparing the most competent and caring teachers who change society for the better. Engage with us in discussion-based seminars, project-based methods courses, and mentored fieldwork placements in schools and districts across the region, that will give you the theoretical and the practical foundations for success in your career.

In all that we do, our philosophy is rooted in the transformative power of education. Our mission is to prepare caring, critical and reflective educators who grow to become some of the most important influencers in a child’s life, enriching the families and communities they serve. We hope you will join us in this movement!

Rene S. Parmar, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Education
SUNY New Paltz