Ask the Dean
March 11, 2020
Dean Gladis Kersaint welcomes your questions, ideas, and comments regarding the Neag School. Please submit your query at s.uconn.edu/askthedean; selected questions and answers will be published in Neag School News.
Q: Hi - I don't have a question, I just wanted to apologize for the seemingly rude questions I see on this platform. I want to stress that these opinions and questions do not reflect those of the entirety of Neag. I understand that edTPA is burdensome and student teaching is challenging, but complaining to those who are trying their best is not productive. This is a selective program and therefore cannot be expected to be an easy pass. I want to extend my thanks to all that you do for us. I am not asking for this to be published either. Just a note for you all.
A: Thank you for taking the time to send this note. It is really appreciated. It is important for us to hear from students with different perspectives. I will use this an opportunity to highlight a few things about the Neag School:
Because we are a professional school that prepares students for specific careers, we are committed to preparing students to meet all program, accreditation, and licensure requirements. These requirements are not unique to or designed by the Neag School. We are guided by standards and requirements established by the profession. As a result, all individuals who want to graduate from an accredited institution and become licensed in Connecticut must complete these requirements. Because we are committed to our students, faculty work diligently to provide high-quality learning experiences to ensure our students can meet these requirements and are competitive. (And on the rare occasion in which this doesn’t happen, we work diligently to do better.)
I am proud to report that our graduates are highly sought after by employers. What you (as students) are doing now will provide the preparation needed to not only be educators, but also to lead education change/improvements in the future. Enjoy the journey as you embark on such an exciting career!
For more information, contact: Dean Kersaint at kersaint@uconn.edu