Conceptual Framework
The mission of the Texas Woman’s University educator preparation program (EPP) is to develop teachers and professional educators who are engaged, prepared, and professional. A conceptual framework illustrates our core values and guides the planning and outcomes that align with our EPP’s mission. It summarizes our philosophical views of the roles of teaching and learning and our essential understandings of how best to prepare candidates to become effective teachers and leaders. Also guiding the work of TWU’s EPP are standards from The Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) Expectations Framework that specify the aspects of candidate completer performance and program practices which distinguish effective programs.
What makes our EPP unique and effective in preparing candidates for effective teaching and leading?
We start with our candidates.
We embrace our status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and for being listed in the top ten percent of the most ethnically diverse campuses in the nation. Our candidates mirror the P-12 student population and diverse communities they will serve. We help build upon our candidates’ unique strengths so that they emerge as distinguished, professional, confident, adaptable, collaborative, and dedicated.
We recognize schools, communities, and organizations as equal partners.
We are committed to developing and sustaining strategic partnerships. Our stakeholders provide valuable input in the preparation of our candidates as well as provide practice-based settings for quality field experiences. We regularly participate in local and state board meetings and serve on education councils so that we can work collaboratively toward the common goal of quality educator preparation.
We design, align, and innovate.
We carefully design and scaffold high-quality field experiences, internships, and practicums, develop meaningful instruction and assessment of standards-aligned curriculum, and embed culturally-responsive pedagogy throughout the coursework. Our innovative labs provide opportunities to simulate teaching and leading and utilize emerging technologies to support learning for all students.
We utilize our resources.
We regularly seek and secure local and federal funding that supports professional pathways and innovative approaches to preparation and clinical practice. Additionally, our on-site TExES Prep Center provides certification exam prep and many other sources of support to enhance our candidates’ success on certification exams.
We continuously improve.
We regularly review our program and candidate data and discuss the implications. Programmatic improvements are data-informed, and evidence-based practices are embraced. We conduct research and produce scholarship so that we actively contribute to the body of knowledge about quality educator preparation.
We provide induction support.
Support of our candidates does not end at graduation. We invite all graduates who are in their first three years of teaching to return to campus for our New Teacher Academy (NTA). The New Teacher Academy is a one-day professional learning opportunity with targeted breakout sessions facilitated by current educators who are also TWU alum.
Page last updated 3:12 PM, August 24, 2021