School of Education

Mission Statement
The School of Education at Avila University is committed to educating innovative, adaptable, and involved professionals, who will provide service to a diverse and ever-changing population. Through value-based learning and authentic experiences, our graduates will be qualified, ethical, and responsible contributors to the greater society.

Philosophy
The guiding philosophy for Avila’s School of Education is the worth and potential of all students. We strive to prepare individuals to be caring, competent, and dedicated professional educators, leaders, and advocates who will provide excellent learning opportunities for their own students, mentees, and constituents. We embrace the values of Avila University in fostering the intellectual, spiritual, and social growth of its members. Avila University provides an academic community dedicated to education in the liberal arts and professional areas, and it promotes community service and life-long learning.

ACCREDITATION

Avila University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Avila University is working toward accreditation of its educator preparation programs under the AAQEP standards, with an anticipated quality assurance review in Fall 2023.  Avila’s School of Education programs are also accredited at the state level by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

EXCELLENT REPUTATION

Avila is highly regarded by Kansas City area school administrators and teachers. These individuals serve on the Teacher Education Advisory Council, provide consultation to the School of Education and interact with our faculty on a consistent basis which opens many doors for Avila graduates.

QUALITY EDUCATION

Full-time faculty in the Avila School of Education have earned doctoral degrees and have held professional positions in K-12 schools. They have experience working with children, youth, families, and colleagues, which they bring into their university teaching on a regular basis.

PERSONALIZED ADVISING

School of Education faculty members serve as academic mentors for the teacher education programs. University advisors assist students with course registration, academic, professional, and personal goal setting, and meeting program-specific requirements.

FLEXIBLE ENTRY

The Avila School of Education offers flexible points of entry into teacher education programs. Students may begin fall, spring, or summer in keeping with their personal needs.

SMALL CLASSES

Class sizes in the Avila School of Education are small. Faculty know every student personally and post office hours for the purpose of being available to students who have questions, need assistance with assignments, or just wish to have conversations with their professors outside of class.

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

Avila’s special education program allows students to earn both an elementary and special education certification at the same time. The program includes additional field-based experiences and the opportunity to co-teach in both elementary and special education contexts within the same semester.

The Avila School of Education partners with district administrators in urban, rural, suburban, private, and parochial schools across the Kansas City metropolitan area (MO & KS) and state of Missouri to secure highly qualified educators to host and mentor our Avila education students. These highly qualified educators host our education students for field-based and clinical experiences. These placements allow Avila education students to have many field experiences where they gradually pick up more and more responsibilities and learn how to be successful in many different types of school environments.

CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT

Avila students have many opportunities for co-curricular involvement across campus and in the School of Education. The Avila Education Association and Kappa Delta Pi (National Honor Society) offer opportunities for students to receive additional professional development, network with area K-12 schools, participate in service projects and get to know other students preparing to be teachers.

AFFORDABLE TUITION

The block tuition system for traditional undergraduate students allows students to take anywhere from 12 to 18 credit hours for a standard price.  Graduate student tuition is set at a per credit hour rate.

Business Office

Teacher candidates, master teachers, and professors from the Avila University School of Education are consistently recognized for outstanding instruction and leadership in their buildings, districts, and states. The School of Education Hall of Fame captures these highlights.  Congratulations to these alums and professors who exemplify the Avila School of Education mission, purpose, and philosophy on a daily basis.

2020-2021
Raytown South High School Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Arianne Henry for being named Raytown South High School’s Teacher of the Year!  Arianne earned her BA in Math Education and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Avila.

2020-2021
Country Music Teacher / Classroom Initiative Recipient

Alum, Jenn Murphy, was the recipient of free classroom supplies through the Country Music Teacher / Classroom Initiative sponsored by county singer, Jake Gill. Jenn is a 5th grade teacher at Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School in Topeka. As part of her winnings, Jake Gill will collaborate with her classroom to create a song!

2019-2020
Horizon Award Winner

Samantha Collins, a Graduate Certification and Master’s of Education alum, won the Kansas Horizon Award for her Region and the entire state of Kansas. She is in the running for the State level recipient. She is an English and Journalism teacher at Chisholm Trail Middle School in the Olathe School District.

Regional Teacher of the Year and District Teacher of the Year

Cindy Long was named Grandview School District Teacher of the Year. She was then chosen as the Regional Teacher of the Year! Cindy received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Avila. She is currently teaching first grade at Martin City K-8 School in the Grandview School District.

2018-2019
Kansas City Public Schools Teacher of the Year

Diane Mora received the KCPS Teacher of the Year award.  She graduated from our Master’s in TESL program and added the ELL certification in 2013.

Grandview High School Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Pamela Burham for being named Grandview High School’s Teacher of the Year! What an honor for a first-year teacher. Pam is in the running to be the district teacher of the year.

Missouri Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award
Shelby Grego and Pamela Burham received the Missouri Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award at the Spring MACTE conference. Shelby is an elementary teacher in the Excelsior Springs School District and Pamela is a social studies teacher in the Grandview School District. Both of these first-year teachers are making an impact on their students’ lives.

Nominated for Shawnee Mission School District’s Teacher of the Year
Chelsea Buchanan, Avila School of Education alum, was nominated for Shawnee Mission School District’s teacher of the year. Ms. Buchanan is an art teacher in the district.

Outstanding Art Educator of the Year
Heather Huettner, Avila School of Education alum, was named the 2018-2019 Outstanding Elementary Art Educator of the Year by the Kansas Art Education Association. Heather is an art teacher at Crestview Elementary in the Shawnee Mission School District. She received her art teaching certification through Avila’s Graduate Initial Teaching Certification program and went on to earn her Masters in Teaching and Learning.

2017-2018
Raymore-Peculiar School District’s Teacher of the Year
Brett Beneke, Avila alum, was named Raymore-Peculiar’s Teacher of the Year! Mr. Beneke teaches English to sophomores and juniors. In July 2017, he traveled with a group from Avila University to Rwanda, Africa as a member of the Fulbright Scholar group.

Peace Teachers Program at the U.S. Institute of Peace
Amy Cameron, a School of Education alum and current teacher at Grandview High School was one of four middle and high school teachers accepted into the 2017 Peace Teachers Program at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP). Ms. Cameron received this honor due to “her commitment to and success in teaching about global issues of conflict and peace.” To learn more about USIP, please visit their website, www.usip.org/public-education/peace-teachers-program.

2016-2017
Missouri Teacher of the Year Finalist
Lindsay Thompson, Fort Osage High School English teacher, was named a Missouri Teacher of the Year finalist. Ms. Thompson earned an English degree with a Secondary Education minor at Avila University in 2001.

2015-2016
Horizon Award Recipient
Katherine Durick received the 2015 Kansas Horizon Award. The Horizon Award recognizes outstanding first-year teachers. Ms. Durick is a seventh-grade science teacher at Lakewood Middle School in the Blue Valley School District. Ms. Durick received her graduate teaching certificate in 2013.

Outstanding Teacher of the Year
Kathy Coleman was named Our Lady of Presentation’s (Lee’s Summit, MO) Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Ms. Coleman earned her master’s degree at Avila in 1997.

Teacher of the Year — Hazel Grove Elementary
Lynn Riggs Ross was named Hazel Grove Elementary’s Teacher of the Year. Hazel Grove is in the Kansas City, KS Public School District.

2014
Kansas Teacher of the Year Finalist
Jenny Nash was a 2014 Kansas Teacher of the Year finalist. Jenny is a teacher at Cottonwood Elementary in the Paola School District. Ms. Nash graduated from Avila University in 2004 with an elementary education degree.

Outstanding Teacher of the Year — Lewis Elementary in Excelsior Springs
Aaron Gaddis was named Lewis Elementary’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Mr. Gaddis received his Master’s in Teaching and Learning from Avila in 2015.

2013-2014
Teacher Hall of Fame
Avila School of Education retired adjunct professor and honors biology and human anatomy/physiology teacher at Shawnee Mission South High School, Jan Alderson, was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. Alderson has been teaching Special Methods of Secondary Biology for six years in the Avila School of Education and hosting Avila teacher candidates for field-based placements in her classroom.  Alderson has completed 45 years of dedicated teaching as a public school educator.

Her commitment to mentoring teachers-in-training, encouraging young women in pursuing STEM careers, and enhancing her teaching through the use of innovative technologies set her apart as a science educator.

Throughout her career, Alderson received numerous national awards, including but not limited to the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, an Outstanding Public Service Award from the National Weather Service. She was a semifinalist for the National Science Teachers Association Science Teaching Award. She facilitated numerous student science demonstrations and competitions, has coached high school students to top honors in national science contests and has contributed work in several major publications.

School of Education Alumni Award
Erin (Wilson) Oligschlaeger was presented with the 2013 School of Education Alumni Award. Erin was a 2002 graduate of Avila University. She earned her degree in Special Education. Erin is the Director of Student Services in Excelsior Springs, MO. Erin has also held the position of Director of Special Services (Marshall, MO), Principal (Eldon Elementary School), and special education teacher. Erin is one of the founding members of  DIGS, Inc., Transitional  Living Program for Saline county. She is currently earning an educational doctorate from the University of Missouri Columbia.

2012-2013
Cerner STEM Internship Program
Becky Brents was selected to participate in the Cerner STEM Internship Program for math and science pre-service teacher candidates this summer. She received a scholarship and completed a paid summer internship at Cerner. Avila University’s School of Education was excited to be part of this initiative intended to help future teachers move into the classroom well prepared in the areas of science, technology and math.

MACTE Outstanding Beginning Teacher Awards
Sara Boen was honored as one of Missouri’s Outstanding Beginning Teachers by the Missouri Association for Colleges of Teacher Education (MACTE). Sara is currently teaching first grade at Chinn Elementary in the Park Hill School District.

Michael Allen was honored as one of Missouri’s Outstanding Beginning Teachers by the Missouri Association for Colleges of Teacher Education (MACTE). Michael is currently teaching 7th Grade Science at Moreland Ridge Middle School in the Blue Springs School District.

School of Teaching ESL Silver Anniversary Award
Diane Mora received the School of Teaching English as a Second Language Silver Anniversary Award. Diane was honored for using technology (Google Voice and Educreations) to enhance language development in the classroom.

Teacher of the Year – East Lynne Elementary (East Lynne School District)
Melessia Brauer, 4th grade teacher at East Lynne Elementary, was named the 2013 Teacher of the Year for her building.

Alumni Published
Chris Frye, an Avila School of Education alum who earned his teacher certification in the field of art education, created the illustrations for the children’s book “Janko and the Darkness.” The book is for sale through Amazon.

2011-2012
Horizon Award
Jessica Edwards, an Avila School of Education alum who earned her teacher certification in English education, won the Horizon Award in Kansas. The award is to honor outstanding first-year teachers. Jessica teaches English at Blue Valley High School.

Teacher of the Year – Eastwood Hills Elementary (Raytown School District)
Courtney Reynolds Stratton was named Eastwood Hills Elementary teacher of the year. Courtney commented, “Considering this is only my second year teaching I owe everyone at Avila a huge THANK YOU!!!! I have kept all of my materials and have returned to them often!!”

Teacher of the Year – Turner High School (Turner School District)
Chaur Jacobson, English teacher at Turner High School, was named the 2012 Teacher of the Year and was also named the district’s secondary Kansas Teacher of the Year representative.

Teacher of the Year – Van Horn High School (Independence School District)
Wendy Kline, Van Horn Social Studies teacher, was named Van Horn’s Teacher of the Year for 2011-2012.

2010-2011
Kansas Teacher of the Year
Linda Irvin Wiersma was named Kansas Teacher of the Year for the Kansas Congressional District 2. Linda stated about receiving the honor, “Once again I must express my gratitude to Avila for the outstanding education and instructional ideas I received while receiving my undergrad and postgraduate degrees. I am overwhelmed and excited about this opportunity. Thanks to all of you, at Avila, I know where my passion started.” (Linda is also a TEXT Mentor and serves on the Avila Board of Counselors)

Excellence in Teaching Award (Lee’s Summit R-7 School District)

2009-2010
Missouri Teacher of the Year
Suzanne Mitko was named the 2009-2010 Missouri Teacher of the Year. Suzanne is a graduate of Avila, serves as an adjunct for Avila’s School of Education, and is also a valued member of the TEXT Team. Suzanne was featured on the cover of HER LIFE magazine. There was a 2-page article covering an interview with Suzanne and discussing her educational philosophy.

Our Lady of the Presentation Sisters of Charity Award
Carmen Bisacca, alumni of Avila University’s Graduate Teacher Certification Program, received the Our Lady of the Presentation Sisters of Charity Award Honoring Excellence in Catholic Education. Carmen stated thanked the Avila Faculty for a wonderful education. She said, “It is because of all of you that I strive to do my best each day.”

Teacher of the Year-Little Blue Elementary (Raytown School District)
Dianne Saltzman was named Teacher of the Year at Little Blue Elementary in the Raytown School District. Mrs. Saltzman received this honor in just her third year of teaching. Dianne stated, “I am ever mindful of those who helped me get here!”