DANBURY, CONN. — The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has named the Elementary Education program at Western Connecticut State University one of the top in the country for preparing elementary education students to teach Mathematics, giving it an A+ rating.
WCSU was the only teacher preparation program in the state to receive this accolade. NCTQ also ranked the university’s Elementary Education program as one of the leaders in the country for preparing teachers to teach Early Reading with an A rating.
WCSU’s Elementary Education Interdisciplinary program was launched in fall 2015 and was created by the university and the Danbury and Bethel school districts. District superintendents and principals had asked WCSU to bolster Mathematics skills and confidence to teach Math in elementary teachers. Research shows that STEM careers begin in elementary school with a firm foundation in Mathematics, so it was a priority that needed to be addressed collaboratively.
“The WCSU Department of Mathematics worked diligently to create courses to bolster Math skills,” said WCSU Elementary Education Program Coordinator Dr. Catherine O’Callaghan. “We are excited to see that the goals for the program are materializing.”
WCSU teacher preparation programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
For more information, contact WCSU Public Relations at pr@wcsu.edu.
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.