College of Education
West Chester University
302 Recitation Hall
West Chester, PA 19383
Call: (610) 436-2321
Fax : (610) 436-3102
Email: kcrouse@wcupa.edu
Message from the Dean
Kenneth D. Witmer, Jr., Ph.D.
Of the four seasons, fall is the one which seems to solicit the most feelings of nostalgia for me. Perhaps this occurs because I sense the vivid changes present in the chilling of the air, the shifting colors of the leaves, or the graying of the sky. Whatever the cause, I become very reflective and experience stretches of personal reckoning. I grapple with penetrating questions related to my relationships, beliefs, professional life, and many of the other human constructs that emerge from our being able to be the subject of our own thoughts. From a professional perspective, I find myself pausing from the busyness of the preceding seasons to honestly consider why I am doing what I do as a professional and what I must do to remain on the path that will allow me to continue to put my head, hands, and heart into my work. Having recently joined the West Chester University community, I am sure the fall of 2011 will provide many moments of intense self-reflection. Although strenuous at times, these fall episodes usually end in my gaining a renewed sense of purpose and a clearer vision needed to direct my steps forward.
This tendency for autumnal contemplation came to mind when I was asked why I left the pleasant hills of Western Maryland and a comfortable deanship at Frostburg State to come to West Chester University. In responding, I realized part of my interest in educator preparation at WCU stems from my belief that its programs are poised to enter a period of fall-type self-reflection.That is, the College of Education and the Professional Education Unit possess the fundamental strength and success necessary for someone in a leadership position to inspire others to consider the two essential questions I seem to wrestle with each fall; why do we do what we do, and what must we do to remain on a path that allows us to put our heads, hands, and hearts into our work? The collective response to these questions forms the foundation of a renewed sense of purpose and a clear vision of the steps needed to keep the education programs at WCU moving forward.
As we think about moving ahead, we must realize there are chilly winds blowing against educator preparation in higher education. American education, in general, is experiencing unprecedented scrutiny. Many would like to see education in this country completely privatized, while others would like to see it fully controlled by the federal government. The unfortunate impact on our profession is that those on all sides of the struggle are basing their cases on the faulty notion that current programs, including Prek-12 teaching and higher education teacher preparation, are ineffective and need to be replaced; not refined, but replaced. In spite of these external critics, WCU has what it takes to move teacher education and other professional educator preparation to the next level of national prominence. I believe this university can be among the best in demonstrating how effective and dynamic 21st century educator preparation should be done. Clearly, the Education faculty members in the College of Education and the entire Education Unit have made great strides toward designing dynamic education programming that is responsive to the ever-changing preparation needs of our candidates as they are charged to meet the ever-changing needs of the students they will teach. I believe WCU is destined to be at the forefront of the transformation of teacher education in America!
In closing, I want to offer a special note of thanks to Dr. George Drake, Dr. Joyce Munro, and Dr. Michael Bell for the leadership they provided to the Dean’s office this past year. To all the managers and staff, I extend my appreciation for the quality work that has been done over the years and for that which I witness now on a daily basis.
I am fortunate to be at West Chester University and am excited to join our faculty, staff, and friends to provide candidates the best educator preparation possible. And, one thing is for certain, as I work through my fall cogitations this year, I can find comfort in feeling lucky to be in the right place at the right time.
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