The Grace College School of Education was recently granted CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) Accreditation, meeting rigorous, nationally recognized standards developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs. The institution passed a peer review of CAEP standards, ensuring that graduates are competent and caring educators and that the educator staff have the capacity to create a culture of evidence and use it to maintain and enhance the quality of the professional programs they offer.
“Grace College meets high standards so that its students receive an education that prepares them to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate,” said CAEP President Dr. Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”
After a seven-year accreditation process, Grace College is now one of 507 total providers meeting the CAEP standards. This continues the national accreditation legacy that the Grace School of Education has held for the last 20 years. The new accreditation is effective for the next seven years.
“The Grace College School of Education highly values the accreditation process as it provides accountability and structure as we seek to prepare the highest level of educators,” said Dr. Cheryl Bremer, dean of the School of Education. “We engage in continuous improvement to strengthen our program and stay current on best practices in teacher preparation and pedagogy. This is evidenced by rave reviews from our accreditors without a single recommendation for improvement.”
According to Bremer, the School of Education couldn’t have done it without the expertise, hard work and dedication of the entire team and she offered a special thanks to the systems manager, Florell Hand, who single-handedly collected and analyzed all of the program reviews.
Bremer also expressed her gratitude to the teachers, administrators and alumni from the local school districts.
“We are so appreciative to our committed school partners for the work they do with us in providing our candidates with excellent opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills in the classroom, in sharing their expertise and input in program improvement and in collaborating with us as we share the charge of filling our local schools with competent teachers with strong character and hearts of service.”
Mary Behny, one of ten college supervisors, has thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Grace’s student teachers.
“My experience with student teachers has been very positive,” said Behny. “They are confident, well-trained, well-planned and submit excellent lesson plans. This is a reflection of Grace College’s training and supervision. It has been my pleasure to be part of their student teaching journey, and I look forward to continuing in the future.”
Dr. David Hoffert, superintendent of Warsaw Community Schools, expressed the value this accreditation brings not only to the college but to the greater community.
“The Grace College School of Education has continued to distinguish itself as a leader in teacher preparation programs,” said Hoffert. “Their current CAEP accreditation is a visual reminder of their dedication to excellence in preparing the next generation of educators and community leaders.”
The accreditation is a momentous accomplishment for the school, serving as a vehicle to continue preparing teachers who make an impact – teachers like 2021 graduate, Kaitlin Broz, who currently serves as a business teacher at Manchester Junior and Senior High Schools.
“The education program at Grace is challenging, but the challenge is what helped me grow,” said Broz. “I am so blessed to have been a part of this program. I honestly would not choose anywhere else to pursue an education degree. It took a lot of hard work, determination and coffee, but I would not change it for anything.”
The institution celebrated this milestone last Monday evening by inviting nearly 140 local school administrators, teachers and supervisors as well as Grace College alumni, senior administrators and instructors to enjoy a banquet at Westminster Hall. For more information about CAEP Accreditation, visit www.caepnet.org/ or call (202)-223-0077.
To learn more about the School of Education at Grace College visit www.grace.edu/academics/undergraduate/academic-schools-departments/school-of-education/.
