Educate the Next Generation
The Newberry College Teacher Education community provides each candidate the opportunity to become a highly-qualified teacher who is a caring, reflective, life-long learner with the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to instruct future generations of students. Graduates of Newberry College’s education program have become leaders throughout South Carolina. Many have been recognized by their peers as Teachers of the Year, and some hold National Board Certification. Currently, more than 1,700 Newberry graduates teach in elementary, middle and secondary schools across the state.
Available Majors, Minors, and Concentrations
The Department of Teacher Education is committed to the growth of its students. We do not expect our students to find their way on their own. We are here as teachers, mentors, and advisors to guide and push students toward optimum performance and success. We have in place several gateways that guide our teacher candidates from the early education courses, through methods, field experiences and finally, to their internship. The intent of our program is to foster each candidate to develop his or her own teaching style, begin networking within the education community, and incorporate knowledge, skills and dispositions learned in the curriculum into a successful classroom experience.
South Carolina Teaching Fellows
Administered by the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention & Advancement, Teaching Fellows awards fellowships to prospective college students who exhibit academic achievement, service to school and community, and a desire to teach in South Carolina. Once enrolled at the college of their choice, Teaching Fellows participate in advanced enrichment programs with unique professional and leadership development opportunities.
Each fellow receives up to $24,000, or up to $6,000 per year for four years, toward completion of their degree. In return, fellows agree to teach in a South Carolina public school for one year for every year they receive the fellowship. Alongside 12 other South Carolina colleges and universities, Newberry College cohosts the program in a collaboration with Columbia College. The first cohort will launch in fall 2025.
Applications for the fall 2025 Teaching Fellows cohort is open Oct. 1 to Dec. 1, 2024. Test scores, transcripts, and reference surveys must be submitted by Dec. 7. Interested students must apply for Teaching Fellows fellowships during their final year of high school. To apply for Teaching Fellows, visit cerra.org.
RETAIN Center of Excellence for Mentoring and Induction of Teachers
The RETAIN Center of Excellence was created at Newberry College in 2010 to focus on the issue of retaining the state's in-service teaching professionals. RETAIN seeks to increase teacher retention in South Carolina by providing quality professional development, mentoring, and support for new teachers. RETAIN hosts the annual statewide New Teacher Induction Symposium each summer for teachers in their first three years of teaching, impacting hundreds of South Carolina teachers over the last several years. Additionally, RETAIN hosts the annual GROW Symposium for college education majors from multiple schools to collaborate, network, and learn from one another.
Newberry Education Society
All Teacher Education majors are granted membership in the Newberry Education Society. Students admitted to the major are honored at an annual pinning ceremony sponsored by NES.
Call Me MISTER
The Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models program, commonly known as Call Me MISTER, is a national initiative designed to address the shortage of male teachers from diverse backgrounds in elementary schools. Newberry College joined the Call Me MISTER initiative in 2010 and graduated its first student member in 2013. Students selected to be MISTERs receive tuition assistance and ongoing professional development opportunities through conferences and internships.
Majors
Education, Children & Community (Birth to age 5)
Early Childhood Education (Kindergarten through Grade 3)
Elementary Education (Grades 2-5)
Middle Level Education (Grades 6-8)
Music Education (PK-12 Certification)
Physical Education (PK-12 Certification)
Social Studies Education (Grades 9-12)
Special Education - Multi-Categorical (PK-12 Certification)
Secondary Education (Grades 9-12) Concentrations within other majors:
Biology
Chemistry
English
Mathematics
Requirements
Measure 1
- Completer effectiveness (2019-22)
- Impact on P-12 learning and development (AY 2022-23) | AY 2021-22 Report | AY 2020-21 Report
Measure 2
- Satisfaction of employers (AY 2022-23) | AY 2020-21 Report
- Stakeholder involvement | AY 2021-22 Report | AY 2020-21 Report
Measure 3
- Candidate competency at program completion Evidence A and B | AY 2021-22 Report | AY 2020-21 Report
- Candidate competency at program completion Evidence C
Measure 4
- Ability of completers to be hired in education positions for which they have prepared Evidence A | AY 2021-22 | AY 2020-21
- Ability of completers to be hired in education positions for which they have prepared Evidence B | AY 2021-22 | AY 2020-21
EPP ADEPT Program Evaluation & Assurances Initial Teacher Preparation 2023-24
Candidate admission to the Teacher Education Program is administered through the Department of Teacher Education. Admission will be granted as soon as the student meets all admission requirements listed below, including successful completion or exemption of the Core Academic Skills tests of reading, mathematics, and writing. Passing standards are established by the State of South Carolina. Students must be admitted by the second semester of the sophomore year to graduate in the standard four years. Candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Satisfactory completion of 45 semester hours of Education courses with a grade of C or better.
- Passing scores on core reading, mathematics, and writing tests, or evidence of exemption via college entrance exams (22 or higher on the ACT, 1100 or higher on the two part SAT, 1650 or higher on the three part SAT).
- Minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
- Reflective essay following a specified writing prompt. The essay will deal with learning in core and education classes and field experiences, and how these have informed the candidate.
- Evidence of positive professional dispositions for teaching.
- A candidate must apply and be approved to student-teach by the coordinator of clinical experiences prior to the intended student-teaching semester.
- Failure to follow required college and state deadlines will result in a delay of one or more semesters in a candidate’s program graduation.
- South Carolina state law requires that all candidates for the internship submit official fingerprint cards and be cleared through SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) and the FBI before being allowed to intern. Fingerprints may not be submitted after state deadlines have passed. All candidates must understand that prior criminal records will likely prevent them from participating in the internship and completing an education program. Those with questions should request a meeting with the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education early in their college program.
- Required GPA of at least 3.0 in major/content area.
To complete the program and be recommended for licensure, teacher education candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Successful completion of all College degree requirements.
- Successful completion of all Core, subject area, education, and education-required courses with an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
- Successful completion of Internship and Internship Seminar with at least "C" grades.
- Recommendation by the Newberry College Department of Teacher Education for state certification.
- Successful completion of all required Praxis II exams in the candidate’s area of specialty, and of the Principles of Teaching and Learning (PLT) test.
The B.A. in Education, Children & Community is for candidates seeking to work and lead in private or public childcare after graduation. Students will gain a strong foundation in the developmental stages of children from birth to age five, developmentally-appropriate practices, environmental design, administration, and marketing.
In addition to Education, Children & Community core courses, candidates will also take courses in business administration and accounting.
The B.S. in Early Childhood Education is for candidates aspiring to teach Primary / Kindergarten through Third Grade. Required courses include those in early childhood education, physical education, biology, English, history, mathematics, sociology and science.
The B.S. in Elementary Education is specifically for teaching grades 2–5. Required courses include those in elementary education, physical education, history, geography, English, mathematics, science and a biology lab.
The B.S. in Middle Level Education prepares candidates for teaching in grades 6–8. Middle level education majors must be highly-qualified in two content areas (English, math, science, or social studies), and coursework beyond middle level core will be centered around students' subject concentrations.
Students looking to teach at the high / secondary school level have a variety of paths available to them, depending on their subject area of choice. For biology, chemistry, English and mathematics, students will major in one of those respective areas with a Secondary Education concentration. Teacher candidates in music education, physical education, and social studies education will major in their selected field.
- Biology (Secondary Concentration)
- Chemistry (Secondary Concentration)
- English (Secondary Concentration)
- Mathematics (Secondary Concentration)
- Music Education (PK-12)
- Physical Education (PK-12)
- Social Studies Education (9-12)
Career Possibilities
- Elementary School Teacher
- Middle School Teacher
- High School Teacher
- Childcare Center Director / Teacher
- Kindergarten Aide in Public School
- Early Childhood Therapist
- School District-Level Administration
Faculty
Susan Fernandez
Dean of Education
Clay Barton
Chair of Teacher Education | Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
Angelia Bedenbaugh
Adminstrative Assistant for Teacher Education
Lorraine Kibler
Assistant Professor of Teacher Education & Special Education Program Coordinator
Kim Neal
Coordinator of Mathematics Education | Assistant Professor of Math Education
Daphne Poore
Co-Director of RETAIN Mentoring and Induction
Deborah Poston
Associate Professor of Teacher Education | Clincial Experiences Coordinator
Julie Stevenson
Assistant Professor of Physical Education
Peggy Winder
Professor of Physical Education | Interim Director of Muller Center