Education Students

Credential Files

A credential file provides a central storage place for the documents that candidates may need for their application process, including student teaching evaluations, recommendations, unofficial transcripts and other supplemental materials. Alma College encourages interested students and alumni to consider using Interfolio, and online credential file service. Log in below to access this program.

Candidate’s Statement

The candidate’s statement allows a candidate to describe personal characteristics and provide a view not otherwise available to persons making hiring decisions. This statement should be limited to one page.

Resources:

UC Berkeley http://students.berkeley.edu/apa.personalstatement/index.htm

Purdue University http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/04/


Philosophy of Teaching

A statement of teaching philosophy gives additional information about the candidate’s fit with a school district or position based on his/her teaching philosophy. There is no required content or set format, which is why it can be challenging to write!

General tips from the OSU website:

  • Limit to 1-2 pages
  • Write in present tense and first person (usually)
  • Avoid technical terms; favor language/concepts that can be broadly appreciated
  • Include teaching strategies and methods to help people visualize performance
  • Make it memorable and unique
  • Own your philosophy; write about your experiences/beliefs, avoid declarative statements

Resources:

Center for Research on Learning and Teaching

http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tstpts.html

OSU - Developing a Teaching Portfolio

Teaching Certification Requirements by State

http://www.uky.edu/Education/TEP/usacert.html

 

Additional Resources

K12JobSpot    http://www.k12jobspot.com/

Academic Employment Network     http://www.academploy.com

American Association for Employment in Education    http://www.aaee.org

EducationAmerica.Net    http://jobsearch.educationamerica.net/

Education Degree.com http://www.educationdegree.com/

Great School Jobs    www.greatschooljobs.com

NationJobNetwork    http://www.nationjob.com/

Nemnet Minority Recruiting http://www.nemnet.com

Public Schools Locater    http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/

REAP ("America's Premier Online Educator Recruitment and Management System")    http://www.mireap.net

Southern Teachers Agency    http://www.southernteachers.com/

Teach4American    www.teachers4america.net/teacher_interview_tips.html

Teach for America    www.teachforamerica.org

Teachers @ Work    http://www.teachersatwork.com

U.S. Department of Education    http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml

U.S. Department of Education - Education Resource Organizations Directory    http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_cd=SEA

Graduate Education Programs    http://mastersineducationguide.com

 

More than one-third of all Alma students take part in at least one performance each year. The College offers majors in theatre, dance and music, but students of all majors may join in productions. The Remick Heritage Center for the Performing Arts is the region’s premier performing arts facility.

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Faculty Profile

Prof. Carrie Parks-Kirby

Prof. Carrie Parks-Kirby
Departments: Art and Design

The work of Carrie Parks-Kirby, professor of art and design, reflects an ongoing interest in historical, architectural, and ceramic forms while exploring contemporary themes through personal, often autobiographical, imagery.

“I have felt deeply the influence of figures made for the tombs of ancient Chinese and Japanese nobles: Haniwa courtiers and farmers, Han dwellings and processions, T’ang horses and Q’uin soldiers,” she said. “The eloquent gestures and facial expressions of Mayan and Olmec figures and the serene dignity of Etruscan terra cotta couples never fail to move me.”

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