What does the Education program offer?
The Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education at Bellarmine offers programs leading to teacher certification in Elementary, Middle School, Secondary, and Special Education (Learning and Behavior Disorders).
Our Secondary Education program offers teaching certification for grades 8-12 in the following areas: Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, and Social Studies.
What makes Bellarmine鈥檚 approach to Education stand out?
The faculty in the School of Education believe that learning to be an effective teacher happens through an exploration of both theory and practice. Therefore, teacher candidates begin observation and field work in the first semester of their freshman year and continue this every semester of their four years. On average, Bellarmine students obtain 30 hours of field work experience each semester.
Students earning certification in either Early Elementary (P-5) or Middle School Education (5-9) will also receive certification in Learning and Behavior Disorders (Grades P-12). Bellarmine is one of only a small number of colleges and universities in the nation with a teacher preparation program that requires this type of intense learning environment.
The Student Perspective
Angelina Georgacopoulos is a junior majoring in Elementary Education and Learning
and Behavior Disorders. Georgacopoulos comes from a long line of educators and has
always been drawn to the profession. After initially planning to teach fifth grade,
a field experience in a second-grade classroom inspired Georgacopoulos to pursue teaching
the intermediate elementary grades in her future career.
Here鈥檚 what Georgacopoulos had to say about her experience in Bellarmine鈥檚 Education program.
Q: What made you want to study Education?
AG: Outside of [Bellarmine] I work at a local elementary school and, just working with kids, I really enjoy it. If you need somebody to be honest with you, that鈥檚 kids. They're so full of joy and hope in a world that isn't always full of joy and hope and talking to kids just lifts my spirit every single time.
Q: How has your experience in this program helped you prepare for life after Bellarmine?
AG: I would definitely say the field aspect. Bellarmine gets us out in the field freshman year with observations. Student teaching doesn't happen until senior year, but just getting out into the field, that first-hand experience allows me to really apply what I'm learning in my coursework to the real world. And even at work, outside of school, I've been able to apply classroom management strategies or behavior management strategies that I've learned to my own professional life now. At other universities, they're not getting into schools until late sophomore year, junior year. We're in [schools] freshman year. So, a lot of hands-on [experience].
Q: What about the Education program has stood out to you?
AG: The professors, everybody over at the school, it's great. You really have such a strong community and everyone is there to support you. The other thing is that our classes are so small鈥攊n my class now there's only ten people鈥攕o you really get to know your professors. You really get to know your cohort and it鈥檚 a supportive community overall.
Q: How has the liberal arts focus at Bellarmine informed your studies?
AG: Freshman year I took a lot of theologies, philosophies, English courses and all those more liberal arts [courses]. Now I'm taking only Education courses, but I'm seeing a lot of integration of what I learned in those liberal arts courses tying into teaching philosophies or management strategies, so there's definitely a correlation between the two.
Q: Can you describe the relationships you build with your fellow students and professors in this department?
AG: Like I said, it's a strong cohort of people. You get to know everybody and your professors. I also do work study [in the Education department] and that has been a great way for me to connect with professors. But with students, I think we all have that same shared experience. For some of us, we've never been in schools before, coming from a college perspective, and so we're all in this together. We lift one another up through the same experiences that we鈥檙e having.
Q: Are there any extracurricular activities built around the Education department?
AG: I'm actually the president of Educators Rising, that's one big program that we do. With Educators Rising, we work to get students鈥攊t鈥檚 mainly targeted towards pre-professional student teachers鈥攃onnected with the local community. We work with Jefferson County Public Schools a lot [doing] school drives, we also partner with other campus communities or organizations鈥攄ifferent ways for Education students to get involved. The School of Education also has an Instagram page and they post a lot of opportunities for Education students to connect.
Q: What is the field experience like?
AG: Starting freshman year, we got to pick where we went for field and then after that we've been assigned where we've gone. I've been in elementary school because that's my focus, but if you're [planning to pursue] elementary school, they do make sure that you get a taste of middle and high school. So, I did get placed at a middle and high school, which was definitely an eye-opening experience. It reinforced the idea that middle and high school is not my thing, but I like that you get to go into those other schools, and I've had friends who are like, 鈥淚'm going to be high school,鈥� and then they get into elementary school and they're like, 鈥淎ctually, I like elementary school better.鈥� We've also had assignments in our courses that we have to complete in field. So again, that connection of here's what you're learning and here's how you can apply it.
Q: Since you鈥檙e a junior what is the field experience like at your level?
AG: You don't start student teaching until your senior year, so right now I'm in my pre-professional semester, I'm a junior practicum student. It's more than just strictly observation鈥擨 do have to teach a certain amount of lessons for the semester. It's not just sitting there and observing, which is more your freshman and sophomore year. I like to say I鈥檓 like a teacher assistant or I'm like a teacher aide鈥擨'm another adult in that classroom and I'm still leading transitions, I鈥檓 leading lessons, but I'm not solely teaching and I don't have the responsibility of managing all the kids. The teacher is still in the room.
Q: So, you are really getting prepared for your eventual student teaching.
AG: We get all that practice, yes. [My supervisor] tells me all the time to get involved now, lead transitions, lead lessons, because the more practice that you can get now, the easier your student teaching is going to be.
Q: What would you say to a prospective student interested in studying Education at Bellarmine?
AG: I would say do it. It comes down to the type of school that you're looking for. For me, when I was applying to colleges, I knew I wanted a smaller, tight knit community school and Bellarmine was that for me. Their Education program is great and with their graduate program you can get your master's in one year instead of the usual two or three. And then once I went to the informational meeting that they had at the beginning and I learned how early we got into field, that's another thing that really tied me in.
Q: Do you feel like your experience in Bellarmine鈥檚 Education program has helped you find a purpose or calling for life after college?
AG: I would, yes. I would say so. It's connected me with larger community schools and it also shows me there's so much that you could do with an Education degree. Even if you start out as a classroom teacher you can go and become an assistant principal or a principal or teach in a university. It's gotten me thinking about what I want to do in the future, and I think I want to end up getting my doctorate and teaching at a university like these professors. So, it's made me think about next steps that I want to do.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to add about your experience?
AG: Bellarmine is great. I really like being in their Education program, you meet some wonderful, wonderful people. The friends that I've made here and who are in my cohort, I wouldn't trade this experience for any other.
The Faculty Perspective
Dr. Kevin Thomas is a Professor of Instructional Technology and previously taught
high school English for 15 years. His research areas of interest include teachers'
perceptions on mobile phones and the integration of instructional technologies to
support student learning. At Bellarmine, Dr. Thomas teaches both undergraduate and
graduate courses related to the integration of instructional technology in the classroom
to support student learning.
Thomas says the strength of Bellarmine鈥檚 Education program is due to a dedicated faculty made up of former K-12 educators who bring authentic, real-world experience to their classrooms.
鈥淥ur classrooms tend to be small, collaborative, and student-centered. Students are active and engaged,鈥� Thomas says. 鈥淔aculty are able to build relationships with their students, and relationships are the foundation of teaching.鈥�
Thomas says it is the department鈥檚 mission to prepare caring, effective educators to teach and lead in settings with diverse learning needs.
鈥淲hen I came to Bellarmine 16 years ago, I was told we prepare students to teach the students who need great teachers the most. I believe we still do that.鈥�
Students are supported in their studies by attentive faculty and supportive peers. In addition to extensive hands-on experience in the technical skills of teaching, Thomas says Bellarmine鈥檚 Education department also focuses on educating the whole student鈥攎ind, body, and spirit. It鈥檚 an approach that these future educators will take to their own future classrooms.
To prospective students looking for meaningful careers and fulfilling lives, Thomas says Bellarmine鈥檚 Education program is a perfect fit.
鈥淚 started teaching in 1993. Thirty years later, I can honestly say that becoming a teacher was one of the best decisions of my life. As I approach retirement, I reflect on my career and feel like I impacted a few lives. More importantly, my life was positively impacted by so many wonderful students and colleagues. I highly recommend it. Regarding Bellarmine, if you want to build relationships with your classmates and faculty, this is an excellent choice. Ask anyone in education in Louisville about Bellarmine, and they will tell you about our reputation for producing excellent teachers.鈥�
Visit the Education program page for more information including program highlights and career opportunities.