School of Education

Vision

The School of Education at UW-La Crosse strives to become a leader in the preparation of globally responsive teachers through a University-wide commitment to teacher education.

Definition: The Globally Responsive Teacher

The globally responsive teacher believes that all learners can learn at high levels and persists in helping all learners achieve success. The teacher appreciates and values human diversity, shows respect for learners' varied talents and perspectives, and commits to the pursuit of excellence for all learners. Globally responsive teaching includes infusion of a strong academic curriculum linked to world events, geography, world cultures, and diverse perspectives.   Globally responsive teachers act to make the world a healthy and more sustainable and just environment. 

A globally responsive professional education program includes the following:

• Teacher candidates gain understanding of contemporary content issues from a variety of perspectives.
• Teacher candidates learn how to employ discipline-specific skills in their analyses of global issues.
• Teacher candidates design integrated curricular units so their students will have a greater understanding of the world.
• Teacher candidates are encouraged and supported to engage in international study abroad programs.
• Teacher candidates develop model lessons that infuse global awareness into their curriculum.
• Teacher candidates develop enrichment or enhancement activities which are designed to expand students' understanding of cultural, environmental, and/or civic issues.
• Teacher candidates consider content issues, both local and global, using technology, and utilizing community resources to enhance learning and expand their resource networks.

Conceptual framework. Reflective: embrace learning, foster relationships, professional ethics, uphold social justice. Practice: critical thinking, best practices, improvement, productive environment

Visual Conceptual Framework Explanation

Across the United States and around the world, teachers face many challenges. Especially problematic are the economic, social, and political contexts that make difficult our attempts to address differences and inequities in schools and other learning environments. Yet, in the face of these challenges, we are committed to preparing teachers who teach all learners.  

The core of the School of Education's conceptual framework depicts our vision and commitment to providing professional education programs focused on preparing globally responsive teachers.  Learners inhabit the core of our visual as a constant reminder that our purpose is ultimately to serve the needs of diverse learners across the age spans. We have intentionally placed reflective practice near the core of our vision and around the learners to illustrate the importance of reflection in all aspects of the teaching profession. Our teacher education candidates will become globally responsive teachers only through meaningful and ongoing reflective practice and professional development. Reflective practice builds and sustains the critical components of an effective teacher, as illustrated by the surrounding text.

Wisconsin Educator Preparation Standards: Teacher Standards

The Wisconsin Educator Standards: Teacher Standards outline characteristics of good educators by identifying the components and defining qualities of best professional practice.