Don A. Williams School of Education

Associate Professor Sarah R. Hartman, Dean

Associate Professor Rachel Juarez Torres, Associate Dean

Professors James Antenen, Don Ashley, J.B. Boren, Jo Beth DeSoto, Joseph Fikes, Chaoqun Huang, Linda Hutcherson-Beckel, Keri James, Judy Jarratt, Don Knox, Michael Outlaw, Sylvia Valdez Phipps, Jerry Price, Tony Strange

Associate Professors Tim Powers

Assistant Professors Trisha Giacommazi, Ingrid Graves, Pamela Nelson-Ray, Debbie Stennett, William Douglas Warren

Instructors Jason Cooper, Clinton Cole Galyean, Jim Giacomazzi, Shiloh Posey, Robert Ssejjemba, Michael Todd Weldon

Lecturer Daniel L. Anderson

Emeritus Professors Kent Brooks, Georgia Flanagan, Patricia Herman, June Hogue, Jim Todd

Purpose

The school is named for Don A. Williams in recognition of his support and dedication to education and the involvement with Wayland Baptist University. The Don A. Williams School of Education is composed of two departments that offer undergraduate education: teacher education and exercise and sport science.

Teacher education is a campus-wide commitment. Wayland Baptist University maintains a liberal arts focus and within this framework stresses strong academic foundations. The university believes that its focus is to prepare teachers and leaders in education under the guidance of Christian educators whose focus is on academic, moral and spiritual preparation. The aim of the school is to prepare highly qualified professional educators and leaders in teaching and exercise and sport science. Students are encouraged in the professional preparation by a faculty committed to high ideals within a Christian campus and culture. A Teacher Education Advisory Council (TEAC) exists, per the recommendation of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for accountability, communication, and relationship-strengthening between the Don A. Williams School of Education and other entities. The TEAC consists of Educators (current and former), Administrators, community members, and both undergraduate and graduate students.

Courses of study offered through the school include teacher preparation in elementary, middle school, high school, and special education. Students seeking EC-6, 4-8, or special education certification will complete an academic major within the department of education, and students seeking the 7-12 certification will complete an academic major of their choice in an appropriate school or department. Within the department of exercise and sport science students may acquire certificates to teach physical education and pursue professional studies in various fitness and sport science professions.

The purpose of the professional program offered by the Don A. Williams School of Education is the preparation of students to assume positions as teachers, coaches, and leaders in the public and private schools and assume leadership in the various communities as fitness and health specialists, and sports administrators.

Teacher Certification Information

Candidates seeking Initial Certification in any field in the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) in the Don A. Williams School of Education must follow the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requirements and the requirements put in place by the School of Education. These requirements include:

Submit an application for admission to the EPP, along with a one-page typed autobiography.
Successfully pass through a formal interview process conducted by an interview committee named by the School of Education.
Recommended for entrance into the EPP by the Teacher Education Committee (TEC).
Receives an acceptance letter (via hard copy and/or email) into the EPP.
Replies with a “yes” to the acceptance letter within the given timeframe.
Purchases Certify Teacher, by contacting the Business Office at 806-291-3456, within two weeks of acceptance into the EPP.
Before recommended for certification, the completion of all coursework, passing all content exams, and all certification requirements must be fulfilled which includes the following mandatory policy:
1. Whether you are a teacher or non-teacher candidate (i.e. School Counselor, Ed Diag, Principal, Superintendent), the following steps outline an updated, standardized process for taking practice certification tests, studying with Certify Teacher online software, and for being approved to take an official TExES exam.
2. Students will then study 10 hours on Certify Teacher.
3. All Certify Teacher study time must be individualized, self-directed, and outside of any class time. This online software program will provide a digital log.
4. Candidates will schedule a practice exam with the Associate Dean/Director of Clinical Experiences or an external campus’ designed counterpart.
5. A log of 10 hours on Certify Teacher will be required.
6. A passing score of 80% is required before gaining approval to take the official TExES exam.
7. If a candidate fails the practice exam, he/she must study 50 hours on Certify Teacher, re-take the practice exam, and repeat step #2.
8. Once a digital log of 50 hours on Certify Teacher is submitted, the Associate Dean/Director of Clinical Experiences or external campus’ designated counterpart will approve the candidate to take the content exam.
Recommended for certification by the Teacher Education Committee (TEC).
Degree is posted by the Registrar’s Office.
Associate Dean/Director of Clinical Experiences, or designated counterpart, applies for Candidate’s certification through TEA on/after the date the degree is conferred.

edTPA

edTPA - edTPA is a performance-based, subject-specific assessment and support system used by teacher preparation programs throughout the United States to emphasize, measure and support the skills and knowledge that all teachers need. The assessement features a common architecture focused on three tasks: Planning, Instruction, and Assessment. Aspiring teacher must prepare a portfolio of materials during their student teaching clinical experience.
Completing edTPA Portfolios - All candidates completing Initial Certification will be required to successfully submit edTPA during their clinical teaching semester. Candidates must use the content assessment handbooks for their specific content areas to complete their edTPA portfolios and submit them through the Don A. Williams School of Education selected Integrated Platform and Pearson. Candidates must pay $311 as a textbook fee to complete the initial edTPA submission at the beginning of the clinical teaching semester. Candidates must meet or exceed the Texas edTPA cut score requirement in order to qualify for an initial teaching certificate issued by the state of Texas.
Retake of edTPA - If candidates do not pass one or more of the three edTPA tasks within their portfolios, their portfolios will undergo review by the edTPA Retake Advisory Committee at Wayland Baptist University. This committee will be comprised of the Dean/edTPA Coordinator, the Associate Dean/Director of Field Experiences, a Teacher Education faculty member from the Plainview campus, a Teacher Education faculty member from the Lubbock campus, and a Teacher Education faculty member from the San Antonio campus. Candidates whose edTPA submissions do not satisfy the Texas edTPA cut score requirement will have the opportunity to attempt additional edTPA submissions at their own cost. Candidates must pay a $100 textbook fee each time they resubmit a task for edTPA scoring. Should candidates need to retake any tasks that require an additional clinical teaching semester, they will be required to pay for the additional semester hours of clinical teaching. If candidates are required to complete a full retake of the edTPA portfolio, they must pay the full $311 as a textbook fee and pay for the full additional semester hours of clinical teaching.

The School of Education

Degree/certification programs, which prepare students for elementary, middle school, secondary, and all-level certification, include the following:

♦ Elementary Teacher Certification

Students seeking elementary teacher certification should pursue the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies degree (B.S.I.S.). A minimum of 124 hours is required for the degree. Students who complete the requirements for the B.S.I.S. degree and who successfully pass the required state competency examinations will fulfill simultaneously all requirements for elementary teacher certification. (See Programs area at the bottom of the page)

♦ Middle School Certification

All middle school degree/certification programs require a minimum of 124 semester hours. Students who complete the requirements for the appropriate degree, fulfill certification requirements, and successfully pass the appropriate state examination tests will satisfy all requirements for middle school teacher certification in their area(s) of preparation. Five certification options are available to students desiring to teach at the middle school level. (See Programs area at the bottom of the page)

♦ Secondary/High School and All-level Teacher Certification

All high school degree/certification programs require a minimum of 124 semester hours. Students who complete the requirements for the appropriate degree, fulfill certification requirements, and successfully pass the appropriate State tests will satisfy all requirements for secondary teacher certification in their area of preparation. Nine certification options are available to students desiring to teach at the high school level: biology/life science, chemistry/physical science, communication (speech), English/language arts, history, mathematics, and social studies.

All-Level Teacher Certification

This option requires a minimum of 36 semester hours in an academic subject. This subject also serves as the student’s major and the professional education sequence serves as the minor field of study. All-level certification is available in art, music, theatre, Spanish, and exercise and sport science. All-level certification allows the holder to teach at the elementary, middle school and high school levels.

Art (grades EC-12), B.A.
Music Education, Choral Music Education (grades EC-12), B.M.
Spanish (grades EC-12), B.A.
Theatre (grades EC-12), B.A.

Secondary Certification Areas

Depending upon the subject area they wish to teach, students seeking certification as a high school teacher should pursue the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Music, or the Bachelor of Science degree. Students seeking certification to teach art, communications (speech) English/language arts, history, social studies, or theatre should pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree. Students seeking certification to teach life science (biology), physical science (chemistry, physics), mathematics, or exercise and sport science should pursue the Bachelor of Science degree.

Students seeking certification as a music teacher should pursue the Bachelor of Music degree. In each instance, the general education core curriculum must be compatible with the requirements of the degree sought. Degree/certification requirements for each of the secondary/high school certification programs offered by the University follow:

The Department of Exercise and Sport Science

The purpose of the professional program offered by the Don A. Williams School of Education is the preparation of students to assume positions as teachers, coaches, community and recreational leaders, fitness and health specialists, and sports administrators. Courses of study offered through the school include the major, minor, and teaching field in exercise and sport science as well as the minor in coaching. Additional coursework is available for students who are interested in becoming licensed athletic trainers. This plan requires courses from the Exercise and Sport Science major and other specialized courses and experiences as specified by the Texas State Department of Health. Upon graduation, each student in the professional program must have sufficient skills to teach, perform, and assess a variety of physical and recreational pursuits; successfully complete a battery of personal fitness standards; participate in regular and varied physical activity; and successfully pass a knowledge-based exam covering all areas of the field. For more information, the student is directed to see the dean.

One of the areas of human existence that all students have a responsibility to develop is that of physical and emotional well-being, including the development of skills and attitudes that maintain soundness of mind and body. The Don A. Williams School of Education provides an activity course program that has a two-fold emphasis: (1) the teaching of total wellness concepts that include health-related fitness principles; and (2) the development of knowledge and skills in activities that can enhance personal fitness and lead to positive use of leisure time.

Two semester hours of credit in activity courses are required for graduation, unless otherwise in degree specific core. Students are encouraged to complete the two-hour requirement during the freshman and sophomore years. Students who have served two or more years in the Armed Forces are exempt and a DD-214 may be required. Students may not repeat the same activity for credit. Because of the lifetime fitness emphasis of the curriculum, age does not exempt one from activity courses. Adapted physical education is accommodated through a personal conditioning activity course.

The Don A. Williams School of Education is housed within the Van Howeling complex. Courses of study are offered which can simultaneously fulfill university degree requirements as well as the requirements established by the state for elementary, middle school, secondary, and all-level teaching certificates. University degree/certification programs include the academic program requirements specified for a particular degree and the requirements specified for the desired teacher certification. The following sections detail degree programs offered by the University, the courses included in each program, and the general requirements established for certification.