On July 24, Bethel University, along with several other schools, received recommended approval from the State Board of Education (SBE) and the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) as an approved Education Preparation Provider (EPP).
An EPP prepares students to become licensed teachers, and all Tennessee Educator Preparation Providers that lead to licensure must be approved by the State Board of Education. To be approved, all licensure programs must ensure that candidates have the opportunity to attain the knowledge and skills, have clinical experiences, and meet all other standards, procedures, and guidelines established by the TDOE and the SBE.
“We are so thankful to our faculty and staff for the outstanding work they have done with the Tennessee Department of Education in getting our approval to continue to license students to teach,” President Walter Butler stated. “Bethel University is known for its outstanding K-12 teachers and want to continue to be a partner in students’ education. I am so proud of our faculty, staff, students, the Tennessee Department of Education and the State Board of Education for working together to obtain this continued approval.”
Bethel will have a comprehensive review in 2022 and will be working with the Tennessee Department of Education as that review approaches.
“The communication and collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Education leaders has been exceptional, and we look forward to working with them as we continue growing as an EPP,” said Dr. Morgan Butler, Division of Education Chair.
The mission of Bethel’s Division of Education is to uphold the mission of the University and to prepare candidates for careers in public education. The program is designed to instill a love of lifelong learning and service through teaching others.
Dr. Morgan Butler stated, “Students can be assured that they will receive an education that prepares them to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate.”
The Division of Education offers a Bachelor of Science degree in interdisciplinary elementary education(K-5); exceptional learning and development interventionist (K-8); exceptional learning and development interventionist (6-12); and other licensure areas including biology (6-12); chemistry (6-12); English (6-12); history (6-12); mathematics (6-12); music (K-12), and physical education (K-12).
The Master of Arts in Education is a non-licensure program designed to offer professional growth and development of advanced skills. The Leadership Excellence Master of Arts is an advanced program for candidates seeking administrative licensure. The Practitioner Licensure Program offers eligible candidates an alternate pathway to licensure.
For more information on our Division of Education programs, reach out to Dr. Morgan Butler at [email protected].
