Why Learn to Teach at Lewis & Clark?

At Lewis & Clark, the vast majority of our graduates obtain a job their first year and stay in teaching for over 10 years.

Approximately 50% of teachers across the country leave teaching within their first five years because they were not well prepared for the work they would be asked to do. Furthermore, many teachers find they must substitute teach for one or more years before they can be hired full time (making perhaps $10,000 a year, compared with $35,000 with excellent benefits for a full-time position). At Lewis & Clark, you will be well-prepared to grow as a teacher over many years.

Why else should you consider earning your teaching license at Lewis & Clark?

Full-year internship

• Many writers and researchers have stated that a full year of student teaching is the most effective preparation for beginning teachers. At Lewis & Clark, you work with the same teacher through the entire school year, learning how to skillfully begin the year, transition into and out of major holiday breaks, and end the school year. Administrators report that hiring one of our graduates is like hiring a second-year teacher.

Coursework for diversity, special needs, and classroom management

• Our programs include significant coursework addressing students whose first language is not English, students who have special needs, and students whose reading ability is considerably below grade level. We focus on teaching the whole child and nurturing all learners. All students learn classroom management techniques in a dedicated class, taught in part by one of the leading experts in the world in this field.

The faculty

• Our faculty are scholars: We make sure that faculty at the graduate school have more time for individualized work with students and time to work in schools, conduct research, write, and present findings at conferences by requiring that they teach fewer semester hours than other private colleges. Many of our faculty members are full-time professors who are leaders in their fields.
• Our faculty are practitioners: We employ faculty who have many years of experience in K-12 classrooms, and who know intimately the challenges and joys of teaching.
• We encourage you to look through our faculty website to see who you will be working with.

The students

• Our programs are structured on the cohort model, so you work intimately with a small group of creative, committed colleagues who bring with them a wide range of life experiences and a dedication to becoming change agents in schools. The deep relationships among cohort members are often a major support for beginning teachers.

CORE program

• All students take classes firmly rooted in the liberal arts tradition through the graduate CORE program, which explores social, political, and cultural issues that bridge academic disciplines but are central to the service professions.

The future

• During your first years of teaching, we invite you to return to campus and discuss your teaching with your colleagues and faculty. The New Teacher Seminars are a direct outgrowth of our belief in the power of mentoring new teachers and supporting them in their first years of teaching.

At Lewis & Clark, you'll find the following for yourself and learn to develop the same for your students:

• Dynamic learning environments that foster caring, equity, and inclusion and promote diverse perspectives.
• Classroom experiences characterized by intellectual debate, a rigorous learning atmosphere, intellectual growth, and a dedication to social justice.
• Educational experiences that cultivate connections between learners and their communities.
• School and classroom environments designed to eliminating the impact of societal and institutional barriers to academic success and personal growth for all students.