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About

Mission

The School of Education provides the leadership, coordination, and evaluation of all academic programs and services offered through the departments of Early Childhood/Elementary and Special Education, Secondary Education and School Leadership and Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science. Its central purpose is to provide pre-service and inservice educational programs to prospective teachers, in-service teachers, administrators, and others engaged in educational activities in schools and other agencies. 

Corollary purposes are as follows:

  • To contribute to the knowledge base in the field of educational theory and practice in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-racial world.
  • To provide leadership in involving public schools, universities and communities in collaborative educational efforts.
  • To provide service to other agencies engaged in education in such a manner to promote the realization of equal educational opportunity and equal educational results for all children.

Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework adopted by Norfolk State University’s professional education programs describes the vision and purpose of the School of Education to prepare educators to work in PreK-12 schools. Consistent with the institution’s mission, its focus is to prepare competent, compassionate, collaborative, and committed leaders capable of meeting the diverse needs of all learners. Supported by a strong knowledge base, the conceptual framework provides a system for ensuring coherence and a well-articulated professional commitment to knowledge, teaching competence, leadership, and student learning. This is reflected in the curriculum, instruction and clinical experiences provided to develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions that are valued in teachers and other professional school personnel.

Accreditation

All of the teacher education programs sponsored by the School of Education have been approved by the Virginia Department of Education and have been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), now the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) until 2022. Each program is designed to prepare teachers to meet the certification and licensure requirements for the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as requirements for successful study at the graduate school level.

Rankings

The School of Education ranks among the top education programs in the country.  Of over 600 programs the Master of Arts in Teaching for Elementary Education housed in the Department of Early Childhood/Elementary and Special Education was recognized and ranked 25th among the best of 600 online programs nationally by College Choice.  It is the only HBCU program ranked in the top 25.  

Academic Departments

  • Department of Early Childhood/Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Department of Secondary Education and School Leadership
  • Department of Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science

Programs

Undergraduate programs leading to the Bachelor of Science degree require a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit. These programs lead to the Virginia Collegiate Professional Teacher Certificate or to a specific educational career.  Click here to learn more about Undergraduate and Graduate programs.

Resources and Services

  • Office of Clinical Experiences and Student Services
  • B. E. B. Model Classroom
  • NSU Preschool Academy
  • Teacher Prep Project
  • Praxis Laboratory
  • Student Volunteer Center
  • Scholarships
  • Click here to learn more about Resources and Services.

Faculty and Staff

  • Twenty-eight (28) full-time faculty; 27 or 96% have the terminal degree (doctorate); 1 or 4% has the master’s degree with the credentials and expertise for their assignment.

  • Twelve (12) staff persons: 9 administrative assistants; 2 pool personnel; 1 stock manager.

Enrollment

  • Fall 2016 - 762 students enrolled in all programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Passage Rates

  • 2016-2017 -100% (Praxis Core, Praxis II, RVE, and VCLA) for all program completers in teacher licensure programs
  • 2015-2016- 96% (Praxis Core, Praxis II, RVE, and VCLA) for all program completers in teacher licensure programs–100% (Praxis Core, Praxis II, RVE and VCLA) for all program completers in teacher licensure programs.
  • 2016-2017 - 100% (SLLA) for all program completers in the school leadership/principal preparation program.
  • 2015-2016-100% (SLLA) for all program completers in the school leadership/principal preparation program
  • Spring 2018-100% (Kinesiotherapy Passage Rate) based upon examination and registration.

PROGRAM IMPACT DATA

Teacher Education Advisory Board Members

Dr. Anita James
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Chesapeake Public Schools

Dr. Patricia Fisher
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and Interim Superintendent (Retired)
Portsmouth Public Schools

Dr. Christine Harris
Director, Office of Humanities and Early Childhood
Virginia Department of Education

Mr. James Frye
Retired Principal
Chesapeake Public Schools

Dr. Thomas McAnulty
Principal
Norfolk Public Schools

Dr. Alveta Green
Executive Director, Office of Student Support Services
Virginia Beach Public Schools

Mrs. Sarah Peoples-Perry
Retired Principal
Norfolk Public Schools
Educational Consultant and Community Activist

Dr. Ella Ward
Chesapeake City Council
Chesapeake Virginia