SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Benedictine University’s elementary education program prepares teacher candidates with the knowledge and skills that will shape and influence their students’ learning through critical-thinking, research-based decisions and best practices.
These practices produce highly effective practitioners who actively promote critical-thinking skills in their students, innovatively manage the learning environment and consistently monitor student progress to adjust curriculum delivery. Students receive quality instruction from experienced faculty who have more than 125 years of K-12 classroom experience. Teacher candidates also have additional opportunities to work with students by tutoring in after-school programs, designing activities for after-school events, participating in service projects and attending professional development conferences. Teacher candidates learn to collaborate with others to positively impact students, the community and the professional field.
Elementary education students complete three preclinical experiences in locations within 30 miles of Benedictine’s Lisle campus in some of the highest-paying school districts in Illinois, followed by a 16-week student teaching experience. Students are placed in public and private school programs reflective of each candidate’s professional goals and aspirations.
As elementary school classroom best practices continue to evolve, so does our preparation of teacher candidates at Benedictine. The integration of technology into classroom activities is an important component to our curriculum.
Students must pass the education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) at the end of their program. Upon
successful completion of the elementary education major with licensure test requirements, students earn a Professional Educator License (PEL) for teaching grades 1-6 in Illinois. Benedictine education students have a 97% first-time pass rate on state licensure exams.