Faith’s Teacher Education Program Celebrates Achievements
December 2, 2021
ANKENY, Iowa—The Teacher Education Department at Faith Baptist Bible College has plenty to rejoice about this holiday season. The department recently had its licensing approved for another seven years by the State of Iowa and is sending off 13 talented men and women as student teachers this spring, in addition to the five who completed fall assignments. It is the largest group of student teachers in the last ten years for the college.
The Board of Directors for Iowa’s Department of Education voted unanimously on November 17, 2021, to approve Faith’s Teacher Education Program for another seven years, which means graduates of the program will be eligible to receive teaching licenses from the Iowa Department of Education through the 2027-28 school year.
“We are thankful for everyone in the Teacher Education Department as well as Dr. Don Long and Dr. Ken Rathbun for all of the work they have done to ensure that our program will continue to maintain its approved status with the Iowa Department of Education,” said Dr. Mark Stupka, Chair of the Teacher Education Department at Faith.
On Monday, November 29, the department held its annual “Student Teacher Sendoff,” which celebrated the advancement of 13 students to student teaching roles this spring. The “baker’s dozen” will serve in classrooms at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels at Christian schools and public schools in eight different states (Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin), and three different countries and territories (Canada, Guam, United States).
Some of the local schools Faith students will be teaching at include Ames Community Schools, Ankeny Community Schools, Ankeny Christian Academy, Des Moines Christian School, Des Moines Public Schools, Grand View Christian School, Harlan Community Schools, Indianola Community Schools, and Waterloo Christian School. Dr. Stupka is thankful for the trajectory of the department and the quality of students that will be making a difference in the lives of young people in the near future.
“The Teacher Education Department faculty members are very excited about this year’s group of student teachers,” said Stupka. “We have a talented and diverse group of student teachers, with more male teachers than usual. For the first time, we also have several ESL student teachers completing ESL placements in the Des Moines area this year. Our student teachers are entering student teaching with exceptional instructional and technological skills, yet more importantly, they have shown humble hearts that desire to serve God and others. We are confident that God is going to do a great work in and through Faith’s student teachers this year!”