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Leah Bittner

“The SMSU RN to BSN Program does not have you take a set amount of credits each semester. This flexible scheduling was perfect for me as it allowed me to vary the amount of credits I took each semester. I would have struggled without that flexibility as I am a non-traditional student who is also a wife, mother of four, and worked full time while completing my degree. This program is designed to fit into your life, whether you want to be a full-time or part-time student.”

Leah Bittner, '22 Alum
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TESL Licensure

Is TESL for you?

Did you know that there are approximately 23 languages spoken in the Marshall school district?

Did you know that Teaching English as a Second Language is one of the fastest growing areas of education?

TESL might be a great choice for you as:

...a teacher seeking quality professional development and/or best practices for teaching English learners.
...a teacher candidate seeking to become highly employable and to meet the needs of all students in today's diverse classrooms.
...a learner as well as a teacher, welcoming the many languages and cultures that your students share with you.

About the program:

- The TESL Licensure Program will prepare you to teach the English learners in your classroom.

- The K-12 TESL Licensure is available in four options:

          - As a bachelor's degree

          - As an initial teaching license for anyone who has completed a bachelor's degree in any field, at either the undergraduate or graduate level

          - As an additional license to any existing teaching license, at either the undergraduate or graduate level

          - As an emphasis area on a master's degree in education

- The TESL licensure program is offered in an online format.

  • As part of the MN Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) requirements, Students will complete a semester-long student teaching experience, or an 80 hour practicum, and create and present a LiveText portfolio based on the WIDA standards.
- Teacher candidates wishing to obtain a K-12 ESL license must have experience studying foreign language. To meet PELSB requirements, candidates need to have one of the following scenarios completed prior to licensure:
  • 2 years of high school foreign language
  • 2 semesters of college foreign language
  • 1 year of high school foreign language + 1 semester of college foreign language
  • Multilingual (English language) learner

Meet the Professors:

Dr. Sonya Vierstraete
Dr. Vierstraete is the SMSU School of Education Chairperson and a Professor of Education. Dr. Vierstraete holds MN licensures in K-12 ESL, K-12 Reading Specialist, K-12 Ed Administration – Principal & Superintendent, K-6 ELED, and 7-12 Coaching. Dr. V. completed her TeachingWorks Practice-Based Teacher Education fellowship through the University of Michigan and LETRS – Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling training through the Minnesota Department of Education.
 
Dr. Renee Ullom
Dr. Ullom is an SMSU Assistant Professor of Education and has MN licensures in K-12 ESL, K-12 Reading and K-6 ELED. Dr. Ullom completed her Doctoral Degree with a dissertation emphasis on Differentiated Strategies for English Learners in the General Education Classroom. She was an elementary teacher for 23 years, with eight years focused on K-5 ESL.
 
Molly Scheidt
Graduated from SDSU in 2010 with a BS in Food and Nutritional Science and 2012 with a BS in Family and Consumer Sciences Education.  She graduated from SMSU in 2016 with a Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Teaching English as a Second Language. Molly currently holds Minnesota Licensure in 5-12 FACS, K-12 ESL, and K-12 Principal. She is currently working on her Doctor of Education from MSU - Moorhead.

 

For more information, contact:

Dr. Sonya Vierstraete
507-537-7254
Sonya.Vierstraete@smsu.edu

Last Modified: 11/30/23 10:49 AM | Website Feedback