Fontbonne University

You will get hands-on experience from your first year through graduation. Your field experience includes private and public schools in diverse environments. Your final semester consists of student-teaching. As a student teacher, you'll work one-on-one with students with support from a veteran mentor teacher. You'll also complete coursework focused on building skills as it relates to teaching literacy, math and english language learners. During the semester before student teaching, you will also study for and pass any remaining teacher licensure exams required by the state.

Fontbonne University believes that all children deserve to meet their potential, which is why Fontbonne prepares its students to work with diverse populations with unique needs, including students in poverty and those with different racial, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds.

Fontbonne pairs with schools and districts that commit to meeting the needs of ALL learners. Fontbonne places students in environments that range from Catholic schools to large public districts. Their programs are tailored to focus on inclusion, hands-on instruction, universal design, trauma informed instruction, and educating all students.

As a new student at Fontbonne, you will be paired with a mentor to help you acclimate to the program, field, and The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Fontbonne offers specialized tutoring for lesson planning, and lesson construction. You will be paired with a full time faculty upon entry to the university and you will keep that advisor through your program to completion. Your advisor will guide you based on your goals for your education.

Fontbonne University educates the most special education teachers in the St. Louis metropolitan area. They offer traditional teacher education programs while also offering certification through a Masters of Teaching and Professional Pathways program. Paraprofessional Pathways program offers teacher certification coursework for the adult learner who is currently working in a school setting and who wishes to earn a Bachelor or Master of Arts in teaching degree along with certification as a special education teacher.  Due to the unique structure of the Pathways program, students will be able to continue working while completing the degree and certification.