WNMU College of Education

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SOE Vision for Teaching

WNMU College of Education
1000 West College Ave Silver City, NM 88062
Phone: 575-538-6416 Fax: 575-538-6417

Last updated: September 07, 2012

The College of Education and other academic departments at WNMU believe that good teachers have very intense and personal reasons for their purpose as educators and can readily provide provocative reasons for teaching. The SOE Conceptual Framework is Western's response to the question, "Why teach".

Western New Mexico University College of Education
Conceptual Framework

The purpose of the College of Education at Western New Mexico University is to ignite and nurture a spirit of learning for both educator and student. Western New Mexico University is committed to preparing professional educators for PreK-12 utilizing a curriculum that supports each candidate, regardless of race, class, or age. The College of Education depicts this vision in the following ways:


	The SOE logo is a Classic Mimbres Black-on-white bowl from the Eisele Collection of Mimbres Pottery and Artifacts,courtesy of Western New Mexico University Museum.

"Ignite and nurture a spirit of learning for both educator and student" "Encender y alimentar un espíritu de aprendizaje entre alumnos y maestros" (Spanish) "Ba'ólta'í dóó ólta'í jilíígo ó'hoo'aah bii'iistiin jidil tli'go naasgóó halled bee baa 'áhwijiilyáa dooleel." (Navajo) "Tsit nah wah she oh nah…yah nit kay ah Tsit nah yah nit kay no nah…Tsit nah washe ah" (Zuni)

Educators recognize, accept, value, and promote diverse ideas, languages, and cultures. Educators stress quality programs aligned with professional and state standards that produce exemplary results. Educators integrate theoretical knowledge into the world of practice through field-based experiences and reflection. Educators possess the skills and knowledge to effectively collaborate with parents, professionals-both within and across schools and agencies-and other community stakeholders. Educators advocate for equitable access and model thoughtful, effective, integrated use of technology resources.

The knowledge base for all professional education programs at WNMU is guided by two key principles: 1) maximize opportunities for student thinking and achievement and 2) facilitate active, participatory decision making. The faculty of the College of Education provides candidates with measurable knowledge, skills, and dispositions to advance learning. Each candidate brings a richness of emotional and cultural connection to learning. In a diverse society all individuals learn from each other thereby igniting and nurturing the spirit of learning.