1
Baylor University
School of Education
Dean Search Committee
Thematically Categorized SOE Faculty Conversation Content
1. Caring Environment (e.g., faculty, students, etc)

We are encouraging and working with out students to become people who value
their own creativity. And who are willing to challenge all persons and being a
creator, a motivator, a creator of good content, creator of wisdom of the heart.
Taking on the mantel of authority and moving from being a service provider to a
professional.

We are to recognize that wellness exists within people and we should focus on the
positive and building the potential of all persons.

Candidates will be having positive experiences.
2. Service (e.g., profession, school, community, state, nation, etc)

SOE should increase national presence in future while continuing to serve Texas,
especially for graduate programs

SOE teacher education needs to serve the entire Waco community

We must encourage WISD and other school districts to see BU as a resource for
K-12 teachers and administrators. This means many different kinds of
collaborative relationships.

Enrollment in teacher education needs to increase. This could be accomplished by
using a different tuition model for teacher education students which would reflect
the historical Christian commitment of BU to prepare future teachers. (SMU
currently has a lower tuition rate for graduate courses in education since they are
offered through Continuing Education and SMU does not have a School of
Education. However, this tuition arrangement may be changing since SMU
recently announced the formation of a School of Education.

Teacher education faculty should be routinely invited to work with WISD teachers
to help them update teaching strategies. Collaboration for this purpose should be
more formalized.
School of Education ~ Dean Search Committee
Thematically Categorized SOE Faculty Conversation Content
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
Graduates of SOE will be leaders in field of education. Our goal should be to
prepare outstanding future teachers who will be teacher leaders.

BU and WISD must partner to prepare future principals and superintendents.

Students must have ways to transfer to the teacher education program and finish
in a reasonable amount of time without diluting program requirements.

The SOE needs to sponsor nationally recognized speakers in education, such as
Norma Tobias who research math anxiety, Margaret Wheatley who research
school culture and school systems, John Allen Paulos who write on issues of
innumeracy, Constance Weaver who research reading instruction, Gay Sue
Pinnell, who researches reading instruction, and others. This would be a positive
contribution to BU and the community.

Serving graduate and undergraduate teacher preparation in Texas.

Learning ways to take care of human beings and self.

Faculty out in the community and making a difference out in the community.

More of a professional development capacity than has happened in more than a
past. We’ve not reached the stage of professional development out in the
community.

Human beings develop within contexts. Therefore, become involved with social
work types of actions such as home visits, total care package of families, being a
part of the whole package of human development.

Develop relationships within the community where we work together to develop
ideas on meeting the needs of the whole person.

We will continue to provide the HP service program to the University (we will
need a gym facility to do this)
3. Resources (e.g., acquisition and preservation)

Faculty workloads for field-based courses must continue to be monitored,
especially in terms of costs of driving, technology to support observations, time
needed to mentor candidates, and parking availability on campus)

We must continue to support the LRC and main library collections. Even though
we have a field-based program, these resources are essential for teacher
education students, grad students, and faculty.
School of Education ~ Dean Search Committee
Thematically Categorized SOE Faculty Conversation Content
3

We need to give more scholarships to recruit incoming students (more dollars)

Faculty members will be writing more grants to recruit grad students

There will be a change in faculty load expectations

We need a $20 million endowment for academic scholarships

The undergraduate program will be bigger than grad program

The undergraduate program will be bigger than it is now

We will need new space; new building/facilities

We need balance in site choice for field experiences, not limited to a single public
school district
4. Program and Department Inclusiveness and Representation (e.g., diverse
SOE)

Only 4 people in HHPR are involved in teacher education, but all of our SOE
meetings revolve around teacher education. We want a Dean who can represent
everyone in the School, especially those in HHPR who may not be involved
directly in teacher education.

Recruitment for students in our physical education program also is a concern.
We want a Dean who supports the teaching of physical education teachers and
coaches. What about finding a Dean who will argue for lower tuition rates for
people entering the profession of teaching? Hasn’t there been a precedent set for
this idea at Truett Seminary?

Think of education as a system that has connected parts that are essential for
each to work and yet are a part of the whole.

HHPR fits in with teacher education by students studying physical

Ed Psych fits in with teacher education by students studying mental/emotional

Inclusion of all programs in the development of the whole individual through deaf
ed, music ed, physical ed,

Developing curriculum based on problem-solving case study scenarios that bring
together all the various groups in the development of the whole child.
School of Education ~ Dean Search Committee
Thematically Categorized SOE Faculty Conversation Content
4

A synergy…staffing models of preparation of educators.

Opportunity to communicate by carving out time for communication and
consistency within program.

Learning to be a part of a team (staff model) that collaborates on focusing on
meeting all needs of the student.

Following a BIC…Staffing…Synergistic model that brings together multiple areas
to work toward the whole.

Building communication across the programs.

There might be a name change in the future to represent our broader focus

We need to help folks understand the “education” aspects of other fields
(recreation, health, Health science studies, administration, counseling)
5. Governance (e.g., structure and facilitation of decision-making)

We do have a consensus about what should be the purpose of the SOE. BU’s
SOE, like other schools of education, train professionals for the various fields that
are represented in the SOE. We balance theory with clinical practice in order to
educate professionals for public service.

We want someone who sees the value in placing TAs and Interns in both Waco
ISD and elsewhere. Waco ISD also wants to keep good relationships with other
colleges and universities that educate teachers. This placement issue, however,
also is a certificate level concern, and not necessarily an across the board matter.

Opportunity to communicate by carving out time for communication and
consistency within program.

Consistency across the programs.

Building communication across the programs.

The financial structure of the PDS Network needs to be re-examined to make sure
that it is equitable. WISD may be open to changes in the financial model as well
as other districts.
School of Education ~ Dean Search Committee
Thematically Categorized SOE Faculty Conversation Content
5

Educating teachers should be the focus (one of many)

A large part of the SOE is NOT teacher ed
6. Balance (e.g., graduate, undergraduate, theory, practice, etc.)

We must recognize that teacher education juniors are developmentally at the level
of one-semester student teachers in the previous program.

SOE PhD programs need to be broad and flexible, yet allow individuals to
develop specializations and take advantage of expertise in different departments.

Undergrad programs needs to be challenging. The standards and “gates” that we
have agreed on must be fully implemented.

SOE teacher education must continue to have a focus on field-based experiences
beginning with the freshmen year.

Teacher education candidates must have an intern experience on a different
campus from the campus of the TA experience.

We will always have a tension between theory and practice, between research and
teaching, between undergraduate and graduate education, and other similar
issues.

A synergy…staffing models of preparation of educators.

Courses in the multiple disciplines and service providers (e.g., social work,
health, mind, body, spirit).

Learning to be a part of a team (staff model) that collaborates on focusing on
meeting all needs of the student.

Preparing students to address issues of professional development and growing as
educators (preventing teacher burnout).

Graduates that are multifaceted and life long learners.

Students learning to do research that impact their professionalism and their
impact on the profession.

We need to identify a few specialists but should return to a time where generalists
could meet the whole person... The most realistic idea of education should be a
School of Education ~ Dean Search Committee
Thematically Categorized SOE Faculty Conversation Content
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thematic approach that prepares students to meet the multi-faceted needs of
students.

Students had to take a communication class once. We need to return to a time
when they take a communication class.

Need to return to a time when they take speech courses, human
growth/development, and courses that prepare the student as the whole person to
meet the whole person needs.

Consideration of schedule conflicts with extra curricular activities will be made if
a student is in a teacher ed program

Athletes won’t have any problems with teacher ed program
7. Student/Graduate Development and Empowerment (e.g., leadership,
preparedness, etc.)

Graduates of SOE will be leaders in field of education. Our goal should be to
prepare outstanding future teachers who will be teacher leaders.

Preparing students to be members of a global society.

Modeling as researchers for our students.

Preparing students to address issues of professional development and growing as
educators (preventing teacher burnout).

Graduates that are multifaceted and life long learners.

Students learning to do research that impact their professionalism and their
impact on the profession.
8. SOE Visibility (e.g., public relations)

SOE should increase national presence in future while continuing to serve Texas,
especially for grad program

SOE teacher ed needs to serve the entire Waco community

We must encourage WISD and other school districts to see BU as a resource for
K-12 teachers and administrators. This means many collaborative relationships.
School of Education ~ Dean Search Committee
Thematically Categorized SOE Faculty Conversation Content
7

Teacher education faculty should be routinely invited to work with WISD teachers
to help them update teaching strategies. Collaboration for this purpose should be
more formalized.

The “Blue” group did NOT support a change in the name of School of Education.

The SOE needs to sponsor nationally recognized speakers in education, such as
Norma Tobias who research math anxiety, Margaret Wheatley who research
school culture and school systems, John Allen Paulos who write on issues of
innumeracy, Constance Weaver who research reading instruction, Gay Sue
Pinnell, who researches reading instruction, and others. This would be a positive
contribution to BU and the community.

The Cherry Professor award needs to come back to SOE. The Cherry Professor
award committee needs to have a larger SOE representation.

Candidates have suggested “window stickers” similar to those available in the
bookstore for Baylor School of Business and other departments. These are not
now available in the bookstore. Candidates have expressed a desire to advertise
their affiliation with the SOE.

Candidates have requested Baylor School of Education t-shirts. These are not
available in the bookstore. This is another way to increase the visibility of the
SOE.

The “Blue” group felt very strongly that it is essential that we have a professional
maintain the SOE web pages and those of all departments in the SOE. Asking
grad students and/or faculty to do this means that quality suffers and it will
always be an “extra” task, not the focus of this person’s responsibilities.

Even though the Baylor Educator represents a significant expense, the “Blue”
group felt that the publication should be resumed for public relations purposes,
especially since many potential donors do not read web pages.

Each department in the SOE needs paper brochures to distribute in addition to
updating the department web pages.

The group discussed the point that we want someone with regional and/or
national reputation in her/his particular field.

We want a Dean who will say that he supports field experiences. We also want
the outside world to hear from our Dean as well as from everyone in the

To actually survive as a School of Education and be here as a school of education
in the future.
School of Education ~ Dean Search Committee
Thematically Categorized SOE Faculty Conversation Content
8

Students who are out there as advocates for schools.

Faculty out in the community and making a difference out in the community.

Develop relationships within the community where we work together to develop
ideas on meeting the needs of the whole person.

Students learning to do research that impact their professionalism and their
impact on the profession...

The SOE had more support in the smaller schools in the past

We need new ways to market our school and recruit students
9. Collaboration (e.g., committed efforts for SOE development internally and
externally)

Teacher candidates must see in K-12 classrooms what they are taught in BU
courses. This means that ISD school partners and BU teacher education faculty
must agree on a philosophy of instruction and implement that philosophy. We
have not formalized discussions of this issue.

Teacher education faculty should be routinely invited to work with WISD teachers
to help them update teaching strategies. Collaboration for this purpose should be
more formalized.

Think of education as a system that has connected parts that are essential for
each to work and yet are a part of the whole.

Modeling as researchers for our students.

Learning to be a part of a team (staff model) that collaborates on focusing on
meeting all needs of the student.

Following a BIC…Staffing…Synergistic model that brings together multiple areas
to work toward the whole.
School of Education ~ Dean Search Committee
Thematically Categorized SOE Faculty Conversation Content
9
10. Interdisciplinary and Holistic Curriculum/Courses (e.g., broad flexible
programs for undergraduate and graduate for whole person development)

Let go of everything that inhibits us from being who we want to be. From state to
federal to tangible to intangible barriers. Create a vision that prepares people for
the future based upon what we believe.

Reemphasize our commitment to that public school student sitting in one school
and in one seat. Commitment to educate the young men and women to meet the
needs of the children in the classroom.

The child is at the center.

The development of humans.

Preparing the whole person by looking at what human beings could be by
developing humans as a whole. Equality of development of the whole human.

Thematic and holistic curriculum.

Paying attention to the context piece of where humans develop.

Developing curriculum based on problem-solving case study scenarios that bring
together all the various groups in the development of the whole child.

Courses in the multiple disciplines and service providers (e.g., social work,
health, mind, body, spirit).

Preparing students to address issues of professional development and growing as
educators (preventing teacher burnout).

Graduates that are multifaceted and life long learners.

Students learning to do research that impact their professionalism and their
impact on the profession.

Affect the whole child.

Need to return to a time when they take speech courses, human
growth/development, and courses that prepare the student as the whole person to
meet the whole person needs.

Strong field-based program

What we want in the future is based on what we are doing now
School of Education ~ Dean Search Committee
Thematically Categorized SOE Faculty Conversation Content
10

We will be conducting exit surveys and improving programs based on input

We will have a more coordinated program

Soc Studies and Science will be better represented in the program

Mentor teachers will be more focused and trained to work with the new program

Freshman in the HSS program will have more early field experiences

Re-establish some type of Principals Certification program that we let go (if
needed)

Candidates appear to have a strong knowledge base that is more developed in the
field

We need a better ability to evaluate what we do and are doing

We know more about what we need to do
School of Education ~ Dean Search Committee
Thematically Categorized SOE Faculty Conversation Content