The teacher candidates in our undergraduate program experience two full semesters of field-based learning where they are assigned to observe in a classroom with a teacher of record in a local school district. During this field-based experience, students also experience in-depth training to support students with different needs, including professional development training in working with students with special needs, and general training on professionalism. With nearly 200 hours of combined observation experience built into the Educator Preparation Program curriculum, teacher candidates are well prepared to begin the final phase of their program. Student teaching is the last program requirement of the Educator Preparation Program. During student teaching, teacher candidates are placed in a classroom with a teacher of record in a local school district where they spend 16 weeks immersing themselves in the classroom.

The Educator Preparation Program provides students with rich field-based experiences in public and private, urban and rural, large and small school settings. The Advisory Board is committed to developing reflective teacher candidates through relevant field-based experiences who are able to integrate faith and learning as they implement and adapt effective instructional strategies to meet the individual needs of all students, as well as meaningfully incorporating technology and multiple assessments.

Both the district teacher as well as faculty from Dallas Baptist University serve as mentors for the teacher candidates during their Student Teaching and advise them in all areas such as classroom management, interacting with parents, lesson planning, fostering a positive learning environment and more. For students who are following the Pathways to Teaching route, they have the opportunity to substitute an internship for Student Teaching in which they are able to earn a probationary Texas teacher certificate and be hired by a school district. After their year-long internship, they are then granted their full Texas teacher certification.

The Educator Preparation Program at Dallas Baptist University is accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to prepare, train, and recommend teacher, school counselor, diagnostician, reading specialist, principal, and superintendent candidates for certification. With a mission to provide quality, Christ-centered preparation of learner-centered educators for servant leadership in private and public schools, teacher candidates from Dallas Baptist University are well equipped to succeed in the classroom. The effectiveness of the Educator Preparation Program at Dallas Baptist University is proven through the test scores of the teacher candidates. For the last 4 years, the pass rate for teacher candidates taking the TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities test has been 100%. Depending on the exam, several of the TExES State Content exams’ pass rates are also 100%. To further support Dallas Baptist University’s excellent Educator Preparation Program, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has ranked DBU in the 99th percentile of best teacher preparation programs in the nation. The Dorothy M. Bush College of Education holds its teacher candidates to high standards and their success is reflected in these statistics. This excellent preparation model equips teachers with all the resources and tools they need to be successful educators who impact the lives of their students. Note: Second Program/Certification Option: Pathways to Teaching Program.