Education (elementary)
Do you want to make a difference in the life of a child or teenager? Do you want to turn a child on to reading, math or science and get them excited about learning? Central’s superior education department offers an elementary education major with courses designed to enable you to become an effective teacher in grades K-8. All education majors participate in field experiences with area K-8 teachers and students in classroom settings. In addition, Central’s unique “teaching academy” provides a distinctive preparatory experience. Our in-demand graduates have gone on to become elementary and middle school teachers, special education teachers, administrators and coaches.
Faculty
- Christine Day, Ed.S., visiting instructor of education
dayc@central.edu
- Jennifer Diers, Ph.D, assistant professor of education
diersj@central.edu
- Alida Droppert, Ph.D., assistant professor of education
dropperta@central.edu
- Philip George, Ph.D., professor of education
georgep@central.edu
- Kris Kilibarda, Ed.D. assistant professor of education
kilibardak@central.edu
- Paula Lee, instructor of education
leep@central.edu
- Joy Prothero, Ed.D., associate professor of education
protheroj@central.edu
- K. Rex Shahriari, Ed.D., professor of education
shahriarir@central.edu
- Esther Streed, Ed.D., associate professor of education
streede@central.edu
Successful Careers
- K-4 special education teacher, Lone Tree School District, Lone Tree, Iowa
- Kindergarten teacher, Dallas Center-Grimes School District, Dallas Center, Iowa
- Special education teacher, West Central Valley School District, Dexter, Iowa
- Early education teacher, St. Louis School District, St. Louis, Mo.
- Behavior disorder teacher, Fair Oaks Middle School, Fort Dodge, Iowa
- Multi-age classroom teacher, Grinnell Christian, Grinnell, Iowa
- Special ed teacher, Saydel School District, Des Moines, Iowa
- Special ed teacher, Hampton-Dumont school district, Hampton, Iowa
- Junior high behavior disorders teacher, Marshalltown, Iowa
- 5th grade science teacher, Pella, Iowa
- 5th grade teacher, Waukee Elementary School, Waukee, Iowa
- 2nd grade teacher, Grimes, Iowa
- Grades 3-5 ESL teacher, Johnstown, Colo.
- Elementary special ed teacher, Des Moines Public Schools, Des Moines, Iowa
- Elementary teacher Carlisle Public School, Carlisle, Iowa
- Elementary special education teacher, Pella Public Schools, Pella, Iowa
- Middle school math teacher, Southeast Polk Community Schools, Altoona, Iowa
- Elementary teacher, Creston Public Schools, Creston, Iowa
Internships
Field experiences are very important at Central. Continuous contact with teachers and students in realistic settings enables prospective teachers to successfully transfer educational theory into effective practice. Students also are encouraged to consider the numerous off-campus experiences available at local, urban and overseas sites.
Central Teacher Academy
The Central Teacher Academy (CTA) program is an exceptional teacher preparatory program and is the only one of its kind in the state! Elementary education majors apply for and are selected to be a CTA participant. CTA students are trained and paired with mentor teachers in the Pella Community School District for three years. This unique program collaborates with three distinct educational resources – Central College, the Pella Community School District, and Heartland Area Education Agency.
Graduate Placement
Nearly 100% of Central education majors are placed in jobs within six months of graduation.
Learn more about internships at Central.
Courses
- Foundations of education
- Classroom and behavioral management
- Human relations
- Language development and learning
- Exceptional children
- Psychology in elementary education
- Family, school and community relationships
- Introduction to multicategorical resource/mild
- Introduction to instructional technology
- Child development
- Health, safety and nutrition
- Developmental psychology
- Early childhood literacy
- Middle school methods and curriculum
- Early adolescent development
- Diagnosis and assessment of exceptional learners
- Science & technology curriculum and methods
- Teaching children with learning disabilities and behavior disorders
- Teaching language arts and reading
- Teaching of reading
- Teaching of mathematics
- K-6 instructional methods for multicategorical resource
- Consultation strategies
- Social studies curriculum and methods
- Advanced integration of technology in education - elementary
- Behavior management
- Field experience in special education
- Early childhood education I
- Early childhood education II
- Transitional/vocational collaboration for the student with special education needs
- Educational services for multicategorical resource/mild
- Reading disabilities and field experience
- Psychology in secondary education
- Reading in the content area–secondary
- Elementary general methods
- Elementary student teaching
- Elementary intern teaching
- Elementary student teaching
- Elementary student teaching in subject area
- Elementary student teaching in subject area
- K-6 multicategorical resource student teaching
- 7-12 multicategorical resource student teaching
Endorsements
- Athletic Coach (K-12)
- Teacher - Elementary Classroom (K-6)
- Teacher - PreKindergarten-Kindergarten (PK-K)
- English as a Second Language (ESL) (K-12)
- Art (K-8)
- English/Language Arts (K-8)
- French (K-8)
- German (K-8)
- Spanish (K-8)
- Health (K-8)
- Mathematics (K-8)
- Music (K-8)
- Physical Education (K-8)
- Reading (K-8)
- Science-Basic (K-8)
- Speech Communication/Theatre (K-8)
- Teacher - Middle School (5-8)
- Instructional Strategist I - Mild & Moderate (K-8)
Sample Schedule
Freshman year
- Foundations of education
- Endorsement program courses
- Core courses and/or electives
Sophomore year
- Human relations
- Exceptional children
- Psychology in elementary education
- Introduction to instructional technology
- Child development or developmental psychology or child/adolescent development
- Endorsement program courses
- Core courses and/or electives
- Social studies curriculum and methods
Junior year
- Literature for children
- Science and technology curriculum and methods
- Teaching language arts and reading
- Teaching of reading
- Teaching of math
- Endorsement program courses
- Core courses and/or electives
- Advanced integration of technology in education - elementary
Senior year
- Elementary student teaching
- Senior seminar
- Endorsement program courses
- Core courses and/or electives
Get more details from the course catalog! (Note: this is a PDF file)
Facilities
In fall 2009, the education department opened its doors to a new 57,748 gross square foot Education and Psychology Building, which cost more than $18 million. It features energy conservation and environmental responsibility. The three-story building provides new classroom, office and instructional space for the education and psychology departments, two of Central’s largest and most distinguished academic areas, along with communication studies and Central’s nationally recognized community-based learning department. Read more at http://www.central.edu/edPsych.
Department Web site
Central’s education department maintains its own Web site with even more information about majoring in education.
Organizations
No matter what your interests are, Central has a student group or organization that you’ll want to join! Education majors might be interested in joining Central's Education Club or Council for Exceptional Children.
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to study abroad with one of Central’s eight international programs to enhance their development as global citizens, or with Central’s Chicago program and the Washington, D.C., program. Education-related field experiences are available at all study abroad sites. Learn more about Central’s study abroad programs.
