The Teacher Preparation Office manages all aspects of the undergraduate programs in teacher preparation, including the Elementary Education/Exceptional Student Education major, the Professional Training Option (secondary education) minor, and the general education minor.
Opportunities to gain hands-on experience in program development, management, and improvement are available across all aspects of teacher preparation, including expanding field experience placements, supervising student teachers during their final internship, and building collaborative relationships with local schools. The office also designs and provides support for teacher certification examinations and collaborates with course instructors to help them meet their course objectives and goals. Ultimately, the Teacher Preparation Office adheres to local and national accreditation requirements by gathering data for program evaluation and analysis, and implementing programmatic improvements and monitoring their effectiveness.
Former graduate assistants have noted the value of these experiences once on the job market. Though knowledge of program development, management, and improvement is not typically included in doctoral training, many higher education job descriptions expect candidates to assist with state accreditation requirements, develop curricula, participate in clinical supervision, etc.
Doctoral students who have worked in the Teacher Preparation Office have gone on to become professors in tenure-track as well as clinical lines; several are program directors themselves; and one is the Associate Director of Assessment and Institutional Research at NYU.
