Guiding Principles

The following nine standards serve as the guiding principles by which MBU’s educator preparation programs are measured:

Missouri Baptist University prepares licensure candidates who:

1. Consistently demonstrate the content, pedagogical, and pedagogical content knowledge necessary to facilitate learning for all students, and to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, competencies, and dispositions defined as appropriate to their area of responsibility.
2. Analyze and reflect on their practice using a variety of assessment strategies, including action research, and are committed to continued professional development.
3. Observe and practice solutions to problems of practice in diverse clinical settings and with diverse PK-Grade 12 student populations.
4. Use their self-awareness and knowledge of diversity to create learning environments that support their belief that through active hands-and-mind-on learning, all students can learn challenging curricula.
5. Demonstrate and promote the strategic use of technology to enhance learning and professional practice.
6. Support schools, students, and community through leadership, service, and personal involvement.
7. Develop effective and supportive relationships that enhance communication among students, parents, and colleagues to facilitate learning.
8. Exhibit empathy for and sensitivity to students and colleagues.
9. Actively practice the profession’s ethical standards.

Drawing from a rich combination of broad-based experiences and academic preparation, the professional education faculty seeks to facilitate in each student:

1. The development of an educational posture which is childcentered, experientially and authentically based, and consistent with a Christian perspective;
2. The enhanced awareness of Christian moral and ethical responsibilities relative to education in a diverse and changing society;
3. The development of critical thinking and effective problemsolving skills through a variety of traditional technologicallybased experiences;
4. The application of experiential and research-based theories into the pedagogical process.

This program fosters in students a reflective and problem-solving heuristic (model) so that Missouri Baptist University graduates are able to make informed decisions as professional educators. The program consists of a planned integrated system (pattern) of coursework and authentic learning (field) experiences designed to enable the student to acquire a strong knowledge base and core of subject competencies, as well as to develop constructive social and personal attitudes to serve as a reflective professional in the education field. To that end, all students seeking state certification within the School of Education at Missouri Baptist University are expected to know and to be able to demonstrate their competency.

Those seeking initial certification to teach must demonstrate their competency in the nine (9) Missouri Teacher Standards as adopted by the Missouri State Board of Education:

1.  Content Knowledge Aligned with Appropriate Instruction
2. Student Learning, Growth, and Development
3. Curriculum Implementation
4. Critical Thinking
5. Positive Classroom Environment
6. Effective Communication
7. Student Assessment and Data Analysis
8. Professionalism
9. Professional Collaboration

Those seeking initial certification as a Library Media Specialist must demonstrate their competency in the seven (7) Missouri Standards for School Librarians as adopted by the Missouri State Board of Education:

1. Teaching for Learning
2. Reading and Literacy
3. Information and Knowledge
4. Leadership and Advocacy
5. Program Management and Administration
6. Technology Integration
7. Professional Development

Those seeking certification as a School Counselor must demonstrate their competency in the five (5) School Counselor Standards as adopted by the Missouri State Board of Education:

1. Student Development
2. Program Implementation
3. Professional Relationships
4. Leadership and Advocacy
5. Ethical and Professional Conduct

More detailed information concerning all folio requirements may be found in the Professional Development Folio Guide for Teachers and Library Media Specialists or the Professional Development Folio Guide for School Counselors, available in the University bookstore.

Those seeking certification as an Elementary or Secondary Principal or Special Education Director must demonstrate competency in the six (6) Missouri Leader Standards, based on the national Interstate Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards, as adopted by the Missouri State Board of Education:

1. Vision, Mission, and Goals
2. Teaching and Learning
3. Management of Organizational Systems
4. Collaboration with Families and Stakeholders
5. Ethics and Integrity
6. Professional Development

Those seeking certification as a Superintendent of Schools must demonstrate competency in the seven (7) Missouri Superintendent Standards, based on the national Interstate Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards, as adopted by the Missouri State Board of Education:

1. Vision, Mission, and Goals
2. Teaching and Learning
3. Management of Organizational Systems
4. Collaboration with Families and Stakeholders
5. Ethics and Integrity
6. The Education System
7. Professional Development