Gordon School and Roger Williams University Announce New Teacher Residency Master's Program

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Mar 11, 2010, 01:17 ET

Program offers students graduate-level study in multicultural education

BRISTOL, R.I., March 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Graduate students seeking a master's degree in teaching can now hone their skills by working side by side with seasoned educators at the Gordon School, a racially diverse, coeducational independent school in Rhode Island for students in nursery school through eighth grade. The Teacher Residency Program at the Gordon School -- a collaborative project with Roger Williams University -- now offers students a yearlong exploration of the theory, research and application of multicultural educational practices and teaching for social justice.

This immersion program features courses taught by faculty members from both Roger Williams and the Gordon School, complemented by daily hands-on teaching experiences at the Gordon School's campus in East Providence and at local public schools. Graduates will earn a master of arts in teaching from RWU and elementary teacher certification (grades 1-6) through the Rhode Island Department of Education.

"Just as it is the Gordon School's intention to send our eighth graders out as innovative thinkers who create change in the world, we want our graduate students to discover habits of mind and a disposition in the classroom that will help them connect with children and affect their learning," says Lynn Bowman, director of the program and a faculty member at the Gordon School since 1997.

Mieko Kamii, dean of the School of Education at RWU, is equally enthusiastic. "We are excited that students will learn the many facets of teaching through daily interactions with children and their teachers," she says. "The richness of this form of professional preparation is well documented."

The residency program is designed to serve educators working in all settings -- urban, charter, private and rural schools. Bowman sees it as an opportunity not only for teachers, but for visionary educators and principals who may open the schools of the future, as well as individuals embarking upon a career transition into the field of education.

The year 2010 marks a major milestone for the Gordon School -- its 100th anniversary. From its beginning in the home of Helen West Cooke on the East Side of Providence, the School has stayed true to its progressive roots and is now seen as a national leader on best practices in multicultural education and social justice.

Applications are currently being accepted for the master's program, which begins in May 2010. For more information on the Teacher Residency Program at Gordon School and Roger Williams University, please contact Lynn Bowman at (401) 434-3833, Ext. 181, or email [email protected].

About RWU: Roger Williams University is a leading independent, coeducational liberal arts university at which students live and learn to be global citizens. With 40 academic programs and an array of co-curricular activities on its Bristol, R.I., campus, RWU is committed to its mantra of learning to bridge the world. Under the leadership of President Roy J. Nirschel, Ph.D., the University has achieved unprecedented academic and financial successes. In 2009, U.S. News & World Report named RWU the seventh-ranked baccalaureate college in the north.

About The Gordon School: The Gordon School is a racially diverse nursery through eighth grade coeducational independent school in East Providence, Rhode Island. Child by child, the Gordon School community cultivates successful students by inspiring joyful learning, encouraging intellectual leadership, fostering an empathic spirit and stimulating a drive for positive societal impact.

SOURCE Roger Williams University