The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) has crowned Mary Baldwin one of the nation’s top schools for preparing PK-12 educators.
MBU joins 30 U.S. colleges and universities in receiving the Frank Murray Leadership Award — which honors institutions that show continuous leadership and innovation in the field of teacher education.
“Frank Murray was passionate about education preparation, a prominent leader in our profession, and a fierce advocate for using scientific evidence to improve education,” said CAEP board of directors chair, Yuhang Rong.
Murray served as dean of the University of Delaware College of Education from 1979–1995. He was instrumental in creating national standards of excellence for PK-12 teachers and evidence-based systems to ensure collegiate educational programs were preparing students for success.
The eponymous award recognizes gold standard programs that demonstrate continuous improvement around — and a proven track record of — equipping students with the skills they need to succeed in a diverse range of classroom settings after graduation, said Rong, the CAEP board of directors chair.
CAEP is widely considered the top accreditation standard for U.S. teaching programs. About 600 educator preparation providers currently participate in its accreditation system.
A hallmark of that system is a requirement for programs to recruit students in a way that emphasizes diversity and helps to build a teacher pool reflective of student populations where graduates will be teaching.
Providers must also have systems in place to monitor and support students as they progress through the program, look for jobs, and enter teaching careers.
CAEP is widely considered the top accreditation standard for U.S. teaching programs. About 600 educator preparation providers currently participate in its accreditation system.
MBU prides itself in graduating confident practitioners who apply solid academic knowledge, strong leadership skills, and compassion for others to serve learners in diverse communities.
Associate Dean and Director of Teacher Education Pam Bailey says the program emphasizes personalized paths to meet individual goals while modeling and encouraging inquiry and reflection, integrating theory and practice, and providing opportunities for exploration and innovation within a collaborative environment.
Nearly 80 percent of graduates go on to work in locations suffering from critical teacher shortages.
“We’re extremely proud of our students and instructors and the hard work they do, day in and day out,” Bailey said. “This award validates the fact that our students and their families are investing in an education program that is second to none.”
“This award recognizes Mary Baldwin as a gold-standard program with a proven track record of equipping graduates with the skills they need to succeed in a diverse range of classroom settings.”
CAEP Board of Directors Chair, Yuhang Rong