School of Education

Leadership

Gary Ritter, Ph.D.
     Dean
Molly A. Schaller, Ph.D.
     Associate Dean
Jessica Leonard, Ph.D. 
    Teacher Education Program Director
Kathryn Pierce, Ph.D.
     Curriculum and Instruction Program Director
     Education Policy and Equity Program Director
John James, Ed.D.,
     Institute for Catholic Education Program Director
J. Mark Pousson, Ph.D. 
     Higher Education Administration Program Director
Karen Tichy, Ed.D.,
     Master of Arts in Teaching Program Director
Jo Nell Wood, Ed.D.
     Educational Leadership Program Director

Description

Originally established in 1925, the School of Education is the academic home for all baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate programs in education at Saint Louis University. As a school within a Catholic, Jesuit institution, the School of Education offers its students an excellent professional education.

The main objective of all programs is to prepare dedicated, reflective scholar-practitioners who exhibit the knowledge, skills, and dispositions embedded in the school's conceptual framework. As reflective scholar-practitioners, the core values that guide our school include cura personalis, trust and integrity, social justice, growth and transformation, and reflective practice. Students are prepared to be reflective educators who can implement educational programs consistent with their areas of expertise.

The School of Education is committed to the interdisciplinary preparation of undergraduate and graduate students for professions to serve as reflective scholar-practitioners and leaders in partnership with and for the human community. The school is dedicated to truth and excellence in all academic pursuits. The school embraces innovative learning through a commitment to diversity and social justice guided by the spiritual and intellectual ideals of the Jesuit tradition. The school advances the University's mission by its research and service to family, school and community.

About Our Programs

Undergraduate Degrees in Education

The School of Education has developed undergraduate programs that meet the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requirements for the following areas:

• Early Childhood Education (Birth to Grade 3)
• Elementary Education (Grades 1 to 6)
• Special Education for Mild/Moderate Disabilities (Kindergarten to Grade 12)
• Middle School Education (Grades 5 to 9)
  • Language Arts
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Science
• Secondary Education (Grades 9 to 12)
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Social Science

Course offerings provide students with classroom and field-based experiences essential to the learning process. Programs are approved by Missouri DESE. Successful completion of a four-year program portfolio development is required for certification. Background checks are required prior to field-based experiences.

Graduate Degrees in Education

The School of Education graduate programs offer degrees in curriculum and instruction, education policy and equity, educational leadership, and higher education administration. The school offers the following degrees:

• M.A.
• M.A.T.
• Ed.S.
• Ed.D.
• Ph.D.

In addition, the educational leadership programs meet Missouri DESE requirements for certification for the principalship, director of special education and superintendency.

The following programs are approved by Missouri DESE: K-12 principal, director of special education, and superintendent of schools.

The M.A.T. degree is structured to fulfill Missouri DESE requirements for alternative route teacher certification in middle and secondary education certification areas. 

Catholic Education

The School of Education's Institute for Catholic Education partners with the educational leadership program to offer an M.A. and Ed.D. educational leadership concentration focused on leading Catholic elementary, middle, and high schools and systems.

Additional Faculty Information

Cameron Anglum, Ph.D.
Jennifer Buehler, Ph.D.
Amrita Chaturvedi, Ph.D.
Mary M. Chittooran, Ph.D.
Dannielle Joy Davis, Ph.D.
Merlene L. Gilb, Ed.D.
Karen I. Hall, Ed.D.
Christa Jackson, Ph.D.
Donna Jahnke, Ph.D.
John James, Ed.D.
Jessica Leonard, Ph.D.
Joseph Nichols, Ph.D.
Takako Nomi, Ph.D.
Kathryn Pierce, Ph.D.
Mark Pousson, Ph.D.
Molly A. Schaller, Ph.D.
Karen Tichy, Ed.D.
Jonathan M. Turk, Ph.D.
Robert Vogelaar, Ed.D.
Jaime Welborn, Ph.D.
Maureen Wikete Lee, Ph.D.
Jo Nell Wood, Ed.D.