From its origins at the Department of Pedagogics, the School of Education has a proud, one hundred year history of preparing qualified and dedicated teachers. In 1898, the New York City Superintendent of Schools approved its curriculum of history and theory of education, psychology for kindergartners, Froebel's philosophy, and McMurry's General Method of Recitation for the teaching of secondary subjects. While the curriculum has changed, the preparation of urban teachers remains a central part of the School's educational mission.
In August 1984 the Department of Education, then part of College of Arts and Sciences, became the Institute for Teaching and Education Studies (ITES), an independent unit with its own administrative structure led by a dean and associate dean. In September 1990, the Institute was renamed the School of Education.
The present day School of Education consists of three large departments: Curriculum and Instruction; Health Studies, Physical Education and Human Performance Science; and Communication Sciences and Disorders. A faculty chairperson administers each of these large departments, many of which include directors of individual programs of study.
In 1995 the School of Education piloted the Scholars Teacher Education Program (STEP), a unique, five-year, combined baccalaureate/master's program for undergraduate students preparing to teach at the childhood and adolescence levels. Based on its success, in fall 2000 the program became the undergraduate model for the preparation of elementary and secondary school teachers.
In 2000, the School also created its first graduate program in Educational Leadership and Technology in response to a shortage of qualified educational administrators. School administrators contributed to the curriculum that combined business, technology and pedagogy in the preparation of school leaders. First implemented on Saturdays in the Manhattan Center, the program was expanded to Garden City in 2001.
The 2000-2001 academic year was marked by a burst of creative activity and debate among individual departments in an effort to revitalize and redesign the programs to meet the needs and demands of a new generation of faculty, students, pedagogical philosophies and state and national standards. By September 2001 all programs had been successfully re-registered with the New York State Department of Education to meet new, rigorous mandates that went into effect on February 2, 2004.
In June 2001, in partnership with the New York City Board of Education, the School created its first Teaching Fellows program, an alternative certification program to prepare teachers to work in underserved school districts. Teaching Fellows attended an intensive summer institute before being assigned to a teaching position. The following year, a two-year alternative Master of Arts in Childhood Urban Education Studies was created. In response to underserved districts statewide, the School created its first alternative certification Math Immersion Program, leading to initial certification in Middle and Secondary School Math Education. All programs are registered with the State Department of Education.
The School introduced its first graduate program in Early Childhood Education in Fall 2003 to address the specialized teaching needs of children from birth to Grade 2.
In March 2006, Adelphi University named its School of Education the Adelphi University Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, in honor Ruth S. Ammon, an alumna of the Class of 1942. This was made possible by a generous contribution to the University from Ruth's daughter, Carol A. Ammon M.B.A. '79, founder and chairman of Endo Pharmaceuticals.The Ruth S. Ammon School of Education continues to innovate to meet the changing needs of its students and society. The School is preparing for its first national accreditation visit, scheduled for November 2006.
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