Apr 19, 2023

UNI equips teachers to stay in teaching profession

If you’re in Iowa and you want to be a teacher, the University of Northern Iowa is the place to go. The size of the teacher education program, which consistently graduates 450 to 500 teachers each year, puts UNI in the top 1% of programs nationally. The consistency remains in spite of the number of teacher education students declining in the state as a whole.

No one understands UNI’s reputation for graduating excellent teachers better than UNI’s teacher education students.

“I chose UNI because it was known as the school where teachers are encouraged to grow and develop,” said Jessica Beal, an early childhood education major with an early childhood special education minor.

Before student teaching, Beal completed 100 hours of in-depth field experience across three age groups: infant/toddler, preschool and K-3, which is standard for all UNI early childhood education students. 

Regardless of what age group a teacher education student is pursuing, they can always expect to receive real-world experience in the field early and often at UNI. Teachers who are more prepared to enter the education field are more likely to stay in the education field. By providing teachers with comprehensive field experiences, UNI is helping ensure that when a teacher enters the classroom, they are more likely to stay there, bringing consistency to their school districts and their students.

“My practicums have been wonderful and prepared me to be in the field as a professional by exposing me to many things and giving me opportunities to try things, make mistakes and grow as an educator working with students,” said Beal.

Jessica Beal at Teacher Convocation

To ensure that UNI can continue to fill classrooms with highly qualified educators, UNI is requesting $4 million in state appropriations for teacher education. The new appropriation will be used for scholarships and paid student teaching while the student is getting their bachelor’s degree at UNI. This initiative will help remove a barrier: the cost of getting a teaching degree.