A Message From the Dean

I welcome you to Maryville University’s School of Education, providing leadership in educator preparation, not only for the St. Louis community, but for the nation as well. Our faculty and staff are proud of their history and commitment to prepare teachers for a democracy. Our beginning and experienced teachers show evidence that they are thoughtful, reflective practitioners; we continue to strive to ensure that teachers and administrators are courageous leaders in today’s schools and society. With our history of inquiry, honesty, experimentation, responsiveness and collaboration, we continue to stretch and expand the knowledge and skills of students and their teachers and administrators.

Maryville University is deeply committed to partnerships with schools and communities, as confirmed by the recent Models of Excellence award the School received from the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education.  Work with schools is at the core of all we do.  The Metropolitan Consortium for Educational Renewal provides one way our teacher education community and that of Harris-Stowe finds strength in collaboration. Our partnership work focuses on the dynamic concept of simultaneous renewal, with special attention to issues of equity and access to knowledge for the entire St. Louis community. Within our collaborations, the inquiry that partners conduct together will provide more understanding of the effects of our teacher preparation programs throughout the professional lives of teachers and university faculty.

Our education programs are moving forward to be among the best in the nation.  We are refining the ways in which we assess our students’ performance and the performance of the children and adolescents in our partner schools. We are making concerted efforts to connect with other professionals who serve children and families in our schools. The use of assessment data will serve to steer us toward thoughtful, long term strengthening of each and every one of our programs, as well as the educational programs of our partners.  Our graduate programs are experiencing new levels of interest and revitalization as doctoral degree programs expand and masters programs gain new foci along with lowered costs for practicing teachers.

As a new dean at Maryville University, I expect to continue our traditions of excellence in teacher and administrator preparation while strengthening our commitment of service to schools, the profession, and the most vulnerable students and communities.  I welcome you to join our community and affect eternity!

Sam Hausfather, Dean
Maryville University School of Education

Please visit my faculty/personal website.