James I. Perkins College of Education

 

Education Studies

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Through dynamic learner-centered programs that support lifelong study, our department faculty members prepare undergraduate and graduate candidates to meet the teaching demands of a culturally diverse 21st century society. Candidates use our resources ranging from the award-winning Early Childhood Laboratory and SFA Charter School to master the pedagogy and technology needed to develop classrooms appropriate for prekindergarten through 12th grade students.

Undergraduate Degrees & Teacher Certification Prep

Graduate Degrees & Certification Prep

Lumberjack Spotlight

  • Helping students learn and teach math

    Dr. Mark Montgomery has combined versatile passions into a career filled with educational enthusiasm. His work to create a positive space for SFA students to learn both mathematics and effective ways to teach the subject to elementary and middle-level students earned him a 2019 Teaching Excellence Award.

    Mark Montgomery

    Dr. Mark Montgomery, 2019 Teaching Excellence Award recipient

Transformative Experiences

Math Carnival
Las Americas
Study Abroad
SFA White Cane Day
Jennifer Sommers
East Texas Adventurers
Undergraduate Research
Bilingual Education Student Organization
Graduate International Field Experience
Traci Dorsett
Math Carnival
Las Americas
Study Abroad
SFA White Cane Day
Jennifer Sommers
East Texas Adventurers
Undergraduate Research
Bilingual Education Student Organization
Graduate International Field Experience
Traci Dorsett

  • At the Math Career Carnival, SFA teacher candidates design and teach the lessons to fourth and fifth graders. This helps teacher candidates understand how easy it can be to engage young learners in problem-solving mathematics tasks and to connect classroom learning with real-world careers.

  • When 40 English-speaking preservice teachers in SFA’s disciplinary literacy course visited Las Americas Newcomer School, part of the Houston Independent School District, they learned how the students at this school feel every day feel when first introduced to a new language and culture.

  • Elementary education students traveled to Europe where they experienced cultural and educational life in a foreign classroom. The students spent two weeks observing and teaching in primary schools.

  • The Braille and Cane Club from the orientation and mobility program advocates for individuals who are visually impaired. Each year, the club hosts a White Cane Day Parade to help educate the campus community.

  • Jennifer Sommers, director of education and community engagement with the Houston Ballet, led an arts-in-education workshop for students in the James I. Perkins College of Education during the spring 2023 semester. Sommers’ visit was the first in a series of experiential learning events made possible by the Margaret Hoover Perkins Research award, administered by Dr. Lauren Burrow, SFA associate professor in elementary education. The ongoing partnership with Houston Ballet is set to serve as a model for the types of school and community engagements teacher candidates can adopt when they enter kindergarten through sixth-grade classrooms.

  • Experience outdoor adventure education with East Texas Adventurers, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department CO-OP-sponsored project!

  • Undergraduate students can engage in independent or collaborative research projects with opportunities to present across the country!

  • Our Bilingual Education Student Organization works to contribute to the field of ESL/bilingual education through presentations at the Texas Association for Bilingual Education conferences.

  • Graduate students can engage in international field experiences in Las Clavellinas, Mexico.

  • Education students have the opportunity to conduct and present research at local, state and national conferences. Traci Dorsett participated in the 18th Annual Region Five Texas National Association for Multicultural Education Conference, where she presented research on advice teacher candidates and in-service teachers want and need.

  • At the Math Career Carnival, SFA teacher candidates design and teach the lessons to fourth and fifth graders. This helps teacher candidates understand how easy it can be to engage young learners in problem-solving mathematics tasks and to connect classroom learning with real-world careers.

  • When 40 English-speaking preservice teachers in SFA’s disciplinary literacy course visited Las Americas Newcomer School, part of the Houston Independent School District, they learned how the students at this school feel every day feel when first introduced to a new language and culture.

  • Elementary education students traveled to Europe where they experienced cultural and educational life in a foreign classroom. The students spent two weeks observing and teaching in primary schools.

  • The Braille and Cane Club from the orientation and mobility program advocates for individuals who are visually impaired. Each year, the club hosts a White Cane Day Parade to help educate the campus community.

  • Jennifer Sommers, director of education and community engagement with the Houston Ballet, led an arts-in-education workshop for students in the James I. Perkins College of Education during the spring 2023 semester. Sommers’ visit was the first in a series of experiential learning events made possible by the Margaret Hoover Perkins Research award, administered by Dr. Lauren Burrow, SFA associate professor in elementary education. The ongoing partnership with Houston Ballet is set to serve as a model for the types of school and community engagements teacher candidates can adopt when they enter kindergarten through sixth-grade classrooms.

  • Experience outdoor adventure education with East Texas Adventurers, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department CO-OP-sponsored project!

  • Undergraduate students can engage in independent or collaborative research projects with opportunities to present across the country!

  • Our Bilingual Education Student Organization works to contribute to the field of ESL/bilingual education through presentations at the Texas Association for Bilingual Education conferences.

  • Graduate students can engage in international field experiences in Las Clavellinas, Mexico.

  • Education students have the opportunity to conduct and present research at local, state and national conferences. Traci Dorsett participated in the 18th Annual Region Five Texas National Association for Multicultural Education Conference, where she presented research on advice teacher candidates and in-service teachers want and need.

Meet Our Students

  • Libby Rosipal

    Libby Rosipal

    “The university has helped prepare me to become a teacher in so many different ways. Starting with observing classrooms and moving into teaching the students myself, I’ve had the chance to grow as both a teacher and a learner. This type of hands-on learning has helped prepare me to be confident in my own classroom one day.”

  • Lauren Zbranek

    Lauren Zbranek

    “SFA provides hands-on experience with children during your first semester, and you learn so much from the very beginning! Each semester builds on the other, so you never miss a beat. The professors offer so much wisdom that allows you to feel like a natural when teaching. I’m very appreciative of SFA’s education program and all it has done to help prepare me for my future classroom!”

  • Raymond Newton

    Raymond Newton

    “The SFA middle-level grades education program provided me with real-world experiences in the classroom and the opportunity to work with actual educators. I feel prepared for my career because I’ve learned the best strategies to use with middle-level-grade students.”

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