Gleazer Department of Education | Graceland University

The Power of Education

Turn your passion for teaching into a meaningful career by getting a degree from the student-focused, innovative curriculum at the Edmund J. Gleazer School of Education. Here you’ll learn how to connect and teach many different types of learners from all different backgrounds with compassion, care and mindfulness — all while gaining the skills you’ll need to succeed in the rapidly-changing world of education.

Our Mission

We develop educational leaders who practice an ethic of care and are agents for social change. We create inclusive learning communities that are reflexive and transformative. Supported by evolving technologies, we are process-oriented and purposefully work toward our goal to provide an innovative and cutting-edge program.

We have an expressed and committed sensitivity to diverse learners. Our candidates learn to utilize a culturally-responsive pedagogy that meets the challenges of a global world.

The faculty is committed to professional development and, in turn, supports students in career-oriented paths of learning resulting in the development of competent, professional educators. The Gleazer School of Education is dedicated to promoting visionary, innovative, responsive, and transformative communities of practice.

Our Vision

The Edmund J. Gleazer School of Education is committed to being a premier Education Preparation Program (EPP) that is visionary, innovative, responsive, and transformative.

Our Conceptual Framework

We believe in preparing and supporting effective teachers who:

Care

Candidates seek to establish a relationship of acceptance and respect for learners that reflects the values of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Collaborate

Candidates develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to effectively involve learners, parents, guardians, colleagues, and the community.

Lead

Candidates prepare to facilitate instruction and assume broader leadership responsibilities to advance their profession.

Reflect

Candidates analyze and synthesize from their academic and clinical experiences and articulate what they have felt, thought, and learned.

Undergraduate Education Degree Programs

Share your love of learning and become the teacher students will never forget. Through Graceland University’s Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, you’ll discover the educational tools and interpersonal skills needed to connect, inspire and empower young students at an important developmental time in their lives. Our elementary education degree will start you off with traditional in-classroom courses centered around a technology emphasis, psychological and sociological foundations and learning theory. Your coursework will be balanced by extensive, hands-on field experiences in both public and private schools along with the exciting opportunity for student teaching placements.

Bachelor of Arts – Elementary Education

Secondary Education Endorsement

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Accreditation, Endorsements and Licensure

Graceland’s Edmund J. Gleazer School of Education offers a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education that is accredited by the Iowa State Department of Education. This program leads to a licensure for the state Iowa in several endorsement areas. If you’re planning to teach in Missouri, Kansas or any other state than Iowa, we will work with you to plan your program in accordance with the requirements of that state.

Endorsements
Accredited by the Iowa State Department of Education, Graceland’s teacher education has been cited for excellence in providing a technology emphasis, psychological and sociological foundations, and learning theory. Coursework is balanced by extensive field experiences in both public and private schools.

Students majoring in elementary education receive a K-6 teacher elementary classroom endorsement. Students also receive additional licensure for their concentration area. Available areas of endorsement for elementary education students include:
- K-8 Art
- K-12 Athletic Coach
- K-8 Reading
- K-8 Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate Special Education
- K-8 Social Studies
- K-8 English/Language Arts
- K-8 Health
- K-8 History
- K-8 Mathematics
- K-8 Music
- K-8 Physical Education
- K-8 Science (Basic)
Secondary and K-12 education students major in the subject areas. Available areas of endorsement include:
- 5-12 American History
- 5-12 Art
- K-12 Athletic Coach
- 5-12 Biological Science
- 5-12 Chemistry
- 5-12 Economics
- 5-12 English/Language Arts
- 5-12 Health
- 5-12 Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate Special Education
- 5-12 Physical Education
- 5-12 Science (Basic)
The elementary education program is offered on Graceland’s Independence, Missouri, campus and our site at North Central Missouri College in Trenton, Missouri. Students wishing to enroll in this program should be making significant progress in completing an associate’s degree from any community college. With the transfer of an associate’s degree, the completion of the elementary education degree requires two years with a reading endorsement or a mild/moderate special education endorsement.
Licensure

All students who successfully complete their elected program and pass the required licensing exams for the state of Iowa will be eligible for Iowa teacher licensure. Graceland’s program and licensure requirements are accredited by the Iowa State Department of Education.

After graduation, you may pursue additional endorsements with Graceland. If interested, contact the Field Office at fieldoffice@graceland.edu.

Meet Our Exceptional Faculty

Shaen Polasky Assistant Professor of Education View Bio

Aryn Kruse Assistant Professor of Education View Bio

Allison Dudley Associate Professor of Education View Bio

Tanya Coffelt Education Department Chair - Associate Professor of Education View Bio

Michele Dickey-Kotz Professor of Education View Bio

Lamoni: Our Main Residential Campus

The Graceland campus located in Lamoni, Iowa, is home to our undergraduate education program and endorsements, as well as many other undergraduate degrees.

Learn About Lamoni

Independence: Home to Our Completion Program

Located in Independence, Missouri is our commuter campus where those who want to be a teacher learn how to manage a classroom and earn their degree in a collaborative environment.

Learn About Independence

A Quick Look At Graceland

Lamoni Campus

16:1

Student to faculty ratio

Fall 2023 Fact Book

1,203

Enrolled students

Fall 2023 Fact Book (all undergrad & grad)

3

Campuses

The Man Behind the Name: Edmund J. Gleazer, Jr.

Known to many as the “Father of the American Community College”, Graceland alumni and seventh president, Edmund J. Gleazer devoted his life to making the pursuit of higher education available to all who sought it. After serving as president at Graceland from 1946-1957, Gleazer found his true calling as the executive director of the American Association of Junior Colleges and over the next 25 years, led the charge and drove phenomenal growth in community-based education in the United States.