Willamette SPED Endorsement Program Involves Whole Family

Willamette University Graduate School of Education provides training for pre-service and in-service teachers who would like to become a more highly marketable professionals by adding the Special Education Endorsement to their license. 

The SPED program at Willamette is a cohort model that runs for four terms, summer through summer. Candidates work together in face-to-face courses and share experiences from two practicum experiences.  The WU GSE SPED program is taught by university and school site professionals.  The staff work collaboratively to develop, manage and perfect courses that are up-to-date, relevant and student centered. 

This Spring's course, Medical Aspects, included guest speakers from the field. Rev. Bill Mosier and his fiance, Beverly, shared the experience of communicating in a deaf world.  Bill lost his hearing at age 19 and became a member of the deaf community.  He is fluent in sign and speaks.  He told of his cochlear implant and explained his work as a counselor for the deaf and a deacon for the deaf.  Beverly shared her work as an interpreter for the deaf and related her training to the linguistic foundations of language.  Isabella Curtis, the 2011 Easter Seal poster child and her mother and father and her great grandmother and great grandfather came to class to tell the story of "Isabella".  This heartfelt, open, caring time gave the class a chance to remember that the students they will teach are people with families who care, not just numbers to be placed on case loads. Isabella is an amazing young woman and her honesty and straight forward communication style reinforced the premise of "teaching the child". 

The SPED program is for the whole student.  Check us out!