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Home > Programs & Degrees > Why Teacher Certification at Stanford?
Dear Prospective STEP Student:
You may be wondering if you should apply to a master’s degree in the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP). There’s not enough space to give you all the reasons that might make this the right place for you, but let me tell you about three important characteristics of our programs.
First, we’re one of the premier teacher preparation programs in the country. Arthur Levine's 2006 report, Educating School Teachers, which was quite critical of teacher education programs, singled out STEP as one of only four exemplary programs in the U.S. STEP is run by some of the top American scholars of teaching, learning, and teacher education. It combines an intensive and innovative set of courses with a year-long internship in a carefully selected classroom. With only about 90 students in our elementary and secondary programs, you will receive the close attention of the faculty and the rest of the staff.
Although these factors are important, the primary reason for picking any graduate program is really the quality of the faculty; and SUSE’s faculty is extraordinarily accomplished. Just take a look at the lineup of faculty members whose interests are related to your own. You know they’re good because of their publications and other accomplishments. You also know they’re good because of the school’s ranking among the nation’s best education schools. (U.S. News and World Report perennially ranks us in the top 4 overall and number 1 in the assessment of our peers.) You’ll find that our faculty care a lot about teaching as well as research, working hard to craft effective classes and to enhance the professional development of our master’s students.
One last point. We think of teaching as the highest of professional callings. In order to encourage the most talented and committed students to enter this profession with the strongest professional preparation, we have an powerful set of financial supports for STEP students. These include generous fellowships and an extraordinary loan forgiveness program for teachers who stay in the classroom for four years after graduation.
With these factors in mind, I do hope you’ll apply. I’m confident that, like others before you, you’ll be enriched by your experience in our program.
Best,
David Labaree
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
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