On Monday, Feb. 27, over 80 liberal studies majors at Longwood were accepted into the teacher preparation program, celebrating Long- wood's future educators who have engaged in the university's prestigious education program and "numerous rigorous requirements," as stated by the Longwood website. Additionally, students were awarded Certificates of Recognition for their achievement.
"Among the requirements for admission to the teacher preparation program are minimum scores on several exams, including either the SAT (a composite score of 1,100, including 530 or higher on both the math and verbal sections) or ACT, the Virginia Communication and Literary Assessment (reading and writing) and the Praxis I (reading, writing and math). Also, applicants must meet minimum grade requirements in the introductory education courses associated with their program, have an overall grade-point average of 2.5 and have two faculty recommendations," informed the Longwood website.
While unable to attend the event, President Pat- rick Finnegan sent a video message to the Long- wood students attending the event, saying, "As you know, Longwood has a distinguished history of overseeing the Commonwealth's best teachers ... And you're now taking a major stride toward adding to that legacy."
Congratulating the students, Dr. Ken Perkins, interim vice president for academic affairs, said, "The way I see it is you're in a sort of transition stage about to take a new set of first steps towards one of the most challenging and rewarding jour- neys of your life. I want to thank you for allowing the Longwood faculty and staff to be a big part of this particular journey."
"In the coming months, several important things lie ahead that you can only imagine now. You're going to stand on the shoulders – so to speak – of the teachers who have come before you. That is a sobering thought ... Your stage and your audiences will be different now ... The light that will shine on you will be a little bit different than the light that shines here, and you are ready for this. And we are looking forward to having you become a really big part of the unparalleled reputation of Longwood in the field of education and teaching," said Perkins, who added, "One last thing, were are darn proud of you."
Dr. Charles Ross, dean of the Cook-Cole College of Arts and Sciences, said, "You passed the first hurdle. There are a lot of people who don't pass the hurdle. You've still got a long way to go." Dr. Deneese Jones, dean of the College of Education and Human Services, engaged the students, saying, "I would like to give you a peek into your
future," providing anecdotes of educators who at first did not trust their students and who later learned the importance of believing in one's students.
"Today is a day of celebration. It's a formal commemoration of your next steps. Over the next few years as you progress through your teaching preparation program, and then you move out into your profession ... my first invitation to you is to be courageous," said Jones.
Highlighting recent happenings and alterations to teaching and teaching institutions in the twenty-first century, Jones mentioned the "major waves of change" that have caused teachers to adapt in a constantly changing environment. She said, "Since the early twenty-first century began the age of educational globalization, your ability to meet the social, the economic, the health and the climate challenges that are found in our classrooms depends on your heeding the relevant messages that are outside of your present comfort zone." Advising the students to be "courageous," Jones
said, "I challenge you [to] disrupt the norm by thinking about the necessary strategies in instruction, in assessment, in teacher collaboration and in accountability. Know that technology has forever altered the manner in which learners engage with their teachers. It alters the way learners engage with other learners. And it has even altered the way learners engage with their educational re- source."
She further stated, "You are now called to disrupt the norm to ensure that your students' experiences in the classroom will keep pace with the reality of their real lives outside of the school doors. Disrupt the norm by acquiring the supports to assist all learners to excel and negotiate an increasingly complex and global society".
Jones advised students to, "Prepare yourself to act on the belief that all students belong to general [education] classrooms, regardless of their background, their race or ethnicity, their language, their disabilities, their gender or their religious choices. Prepare yourself to meet all students as capable learners who are entitled to high quality instruction and access to challenging content that will fully prepare them to enter a competitive and global economy as productive citizens and successful workers. Prepare yourself to embrace each learner as a core component of your mission as educators. Prepare yourself to set high, but realistic expectations for each learner to create their own dream for an engaged lifestyle."
Overall, Jones said, "[It] is going to be your job to care ... Prepare yourselves to care at the highest level."
