Education Department Mission

Equipping teachers for transformative learning and service.

The Houghton College Teacher Education Program is rooted in the conviction that education at every level must not only inform the mind, but also enrich the spirit and shape the character of all who participate. We further believe that, to serve effectively as teachers in the changing world of the 21st century, our graduates must enter the profession solidly prepared in academic content, intellectual abilities, and pedagogical knowledge. Since no amount of preparation can anticipate all teaching contexts or subsequent developments in the field, our graduates must also be ready to continue learning as they teach.

The mission of Houghton College’s teacher education program, derived from these convictions, is to equip teachers for transformative learning and service.

The Goals

The College aims to prepare teachers who are competent scholars with a broad knowledge base in the liberal arts, a clear personal philosophy to give coherence to their teaching, and a commitment to life-long learning. We aim to prepare teachers who:

1. Demonstrate a breadth and depth of subject matter knowledge and facility with the intellectual tools of the liberal arts.

2. Articulate a personal philosophy of education based on their knowledge of the cultural, historical, philosophical, and psychological foundations of education that informs and gives coherence to their teaching.

3. Demonstrate the desire and means to pursue life-long growth as learners and educators.

The college aims to prepare reflective teachers who use their understanding of students' developmental needs and their own strong academic knowledge base to provide instruction that is both challenging and nurturing, and to do so in partnership with families, other educators, and the community. We aim to prepare teachers who:

4. Understand and foster students’ cognitive, psychological, social and moral development.

5. Integrate the knowledge and intellectual tools of the liberal arts with pedagogical knowledge to create instruction and assessment practices that meet the varied learning needs of diverse students.

6. Apply pedagogical knowledge and understanding of diverse learners to develop learning environments that nurture and value each student.

7. Work in partnership with students, educational professionals, parents, and community members to foster students’ learning and development.

The college aims to prepare teachers who are caring professionals who respect cultural diversity, are aware of many potential avenues of service in different kinds of schools, and who are able to develop and critique educational ideas and practices in light of Christian faith. We aim to prepare teachers who are excellent ethical and moral role models, teachers who:

8. Respect cultural diversity in their school contexts, and develop culturally relevant learning communities that strengthen students’ sense of self and promote community development.

9. Consider the variety of institutions and community settings in which they might teach, including rural, urban, and suburban; public and private; American and international.

10. Develop and critique educational thought and practice in light of Christian faith, and demonstrate ethical and moral integrity in their personal and professional behavior.