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Center for Catholic Education at UD

UD Ranked in the Top Ten Percent by NCTQ

By Susan M. Ferguson

As Director of the University of Dayton (UD) Center for Catholic Education, I have the professional privilege to teach with colleagues from the UD Department of Teacher Education.  In the past few years teacher, preparation programs in the Department have been nationally recognized as model programs from which other colleges and universities can see demonstrated best practices to form and train effective teachers.  What the rankings do not always show or highlight is the connection graduates make throughout their undergraduate work to Catholic and Marianist values.  These values grow from the traditions upon which UD was founded: dignity of the human person, education of the whole person, family spirit, integrated quality curriculum, service for justice and peace, and openness to adaptation seeking positive change. These Characteristics of Marianist Education are introduced to our students in their first year of study in the Department.  Early on students are asked to recognize manifestations of these characteristics in the teachers’ practices they observe and eventually, by the end of their course work and student teaching, in their own practice.  Because these characteristics touch their minds, hearts and spirits, I have been pleased to note the passion by which our seniors embrace the characteristics in their own work.  The National Council on Teacher Quality’s (NCTQ) ranking is a great honor and one deserved thanks to my colleagues for choosing to care about their teacher education candidates as professionals who are open to:

  •   --  students from diverse backgrounds
  •   --  curriculum that will engage and launch creative thought
  •   --  assessment that is fair and aligned with what is being taught
  •   --  students’ lives outside of the classroom
  •   --  nurturing souls and spirits of their students

 “At a time when fewer than half of the nation’s teacher prep programs successfully show future teachers both what to teach and how to teach it, it’s great to see programs like those at the University of Dayton proving that there is a better way,” said Kate Walsh, president of NCTQ.

Not all of our graduates teach in Catholic schools; however, many do!  The lessons our graduates take from our Catholic and Marianist traditions just may be one of the paths to this national recognition! 

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