Teachers play a big role in the intellectual and social development of children, determining
future prospects of students and providing the tools and environment for students
to develop into responsible adults.
As a teacher, you'll be a facilitator who:
Uses classroom presentations or individual instruction to help students learn
Plans, evaluates and assigns lessons
Prepares, administers and grades tests
Listens to oral presentations
Maintains classroom discipline
Observes and evaluates a student's performance and potential
Grades papers and prepares report cards
Meets with parents and school staff to discuss a student's academic progress and any
individual concerns
Our teacher education program leads to anAssociate in Arts Teaching (A.A.T.) degree. It includes introductory and mid-preparation courses to help you become a professional
educator in pre-K-12 settings.
You'll also get field experience to observe and learn in a pre-K-12 classroom before
transferring to a four-year institution.
The A.A.T. degree is a pre-professional degree that prepares students to transfer
to a four-year college or university offering a Bachelor's in Education. It is a state-wide
approved program and, when completed in its entirety, meets the requirements for the
first two years of an early childhood, elementary or secondary education degree.
Recognition
Our degree is recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
and transfers to almost every four-year school of education in the state.
That depends. Each state has its own certification requirements. It is best to check
out the state and the institution that you want to transfer to before taking your
education classes at MCC. If you receive your teacher’s certificate in the state of
Missouri, you can transfer to other states provisionally. The state of Missouri has
reciprocity agreements with Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa.
Set up an appointment with an academic advisor and they will help you build a pathway
toward completing coursework at MCC and then transferring to a teacher education program
to complete the remainder of your teacher certification requirements. You can also
contact one of the full-time education instructors at MCC.
One of the courses (EDUC 201: The Teaching Profession with Field Experience) has a
30-hour observation requirement. If desired, students can choose placements in different
schools, different grade levels, and different subjects to complete this requirement
-- a great way to explore options!
There will always be a need for teachers in our society. You will have opportunities
to do other work besides teaching in the classroom. You will have a set schedule of
working during the day and throughout the year. You will have breaks (winter, spring,
and summer). Public school teachers in Missouri have a strong retirement system. The
biggest benefit to being a teacher, though, is making a difference in the lives of
students and the community!