PEP Mission Statement

1. To provide discipline-based professional education of the highest quality for undergraduate and graduate teacher candidates and administrators.
2. To integrate research and theories of the disciplines with diverse field experiences, and create educators who will continue to grow and synergistically combine evolving expert knowledge with pedagogy that exceeds state, national, and professional standards.
3. To integrate diversity into the academic and clinical experiences to enhance the continuous cross fertilization of ideas.
4. To build and strengthen partnerships within the University and with the regional community.
5. To provide leadership and professional development for the educational community of the region and beyond.

PEP's vision, as outlined in its Conceptual Framework, is to become a global leader in the professional development of educators by creating diverse learning environments that underscore the symbiosis of research, teaching, life-long learning, community service, and leadership. PEP's mission is aligned with the Stony Brook University mission, with current pedagogical content-based research, and with state and national professional standards. Our vision is rooted in three major themes that inform and unify our programs:

• Professional Excellence and Growth
• Community and Diversity
• Leadership and Service

Candidate Proficiencies

We prepare teacher candidates who:

1. Understand the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline.
2. Understand and apply knowledge of human development and research in pedagogy to design diverse learning experiences that promote intellectual, social and personal development.
3. Understand and appreciate how students differ in their approaches to learning, are sensitive to diversity, and can adapt learning experiences to diverse learners.
4. Apply a variety of instructional strategies grounded in pedagogical content knowledge to creatively develop critical thinking, cognitive and performance skills, and intellectual curiosity for all learners.
5. Understand and apply knowledge of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self motivation.
6. Understand and apply knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication strategies to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
7. Plan and adjust learning experiences based upon knowledge of the discipline and its pedagogy, curriculum goals, the individual student, and community.
8. Understand and apply formal and informal modes of assessment to evaluate learners, monitor learner progress, and inform and improve instruction.
9. Actively seek opportunities to grow professionally, including engagement in reflective practice; continually evaluate the effects of their actions on others and are flexible in their responses; open to constructive criticism; and intellectually curious.
10. Foster collegial and communal partnerships to support student learning and well-being, both inside and outside the classroom.