BECOMING A TEACHER LEADER:

Taking Responsibility for Student Learning

“Transitioning between college and the classroom was easy because of the experiences I received in the teacher education program at Western. The service learning experiences out in the elementary school gave me a familiarity with real teaching that surpassed other beginning teachers. I am proud to say that Missouri Western State University equipped me with the necessary tools to reach my full potential as a teacher.”

Kit L. Blake, ’81

Instructor of Teacher Education

Missouri Western State University

“Upon re-entering college as a nontraditional student, many professors became not only my mentors, but friends and colleagues. The Education Department was my home away from home and I spent many hours with those wonderful professors – always questioning, listening, and being challenged to my utmost potential. I loved that feeling.”

Debbie Lyons, M.S. Ed., ’91

Coordinator of Building Bridges

St. Joseph School District 

“The methodology I was taught by the Education Department has been invaluable to my career. The relationships I established at Western were what I would consider my ‘golden’ experience, and those relationships helped make me successful.”

Jeremy Burright, ’97

Educator, St. Joseph School District