Educators for the World’s Classrooms
The Olivet Nazarene University School of Education prepares students for success in their chosen career of teaching — no small assignment, given the changing landscape of education. Responsiveness in keeping programs current is one of Olivet’s many distinctives.
At Olivet Nazarene University, education students are challenged academically and spiritually. Each day as they work toward their degrees, they integrate faith with learning. They become professional educators committed to their careers and dedicated to influencing lives.
Lance Kilpatrick, Department Chair
In 2011, Lance Kilpatrick began his first assignment in higher education when he joined Olivet’s full-time faculty. Today, he oversees the School of Education’s undergraduate academic programs, as well as the work of its faculty members. “God called me into the teaching profession so I would have opportunities to influence children in a classroom or on a team,” he says. “Now my calling is exponential. I am preparing many educators to go out and influence many children for the next 20 to 30 years.”
At Olivet, the School of Education programs focus on teaching the whole child — the academics, the social, the emotional. Teacher candidates graduate with more than knowledge. They carry with them a heart full of love and excitement for the work ahead of them. As professionals, they enter their own classrooms as Christ-like examples and role models.
The School of Education at Olivet Nazarene University is preparing students for success in their chosen careers. Alumni continue to report on the excellent preparation they have received during their studies at Olivet.
The School of Education strives for responsiveness in keeping its programs current. Within the last three years, the Early Childhood, Elementary Education and Middle Grades programs have been revised to meet licensing and hiring requirements. The newest program is the Special Education Teacher Training Program with the first graduates in the Class of 2017.
Olivet Nazarene University’s Teacher Education Program is a recognized education preparation program by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board (SEPLB). Each teaching program that is offered at Olivet has been individually approved for licensure, meaning that when a teaching candidate graduates with a teaching degree they will also have earned an Illinois Professional Educators License. The School of Education continues to update existing programs to meet and exceed the Illinois State Board of Education standards and is aligned with the top educational preparation standards in the nation.
The best way to discover all that Olivet has to offer is to schedule your personal, customized visit. Learn how an education degree from the Olivet will shape your future.
From Art to Special Ed, Olivet students choose their area of focus, and spend valuable time as student and with students.
Many elementary, middle school and high school students say that math courses are their most difficult. Olivet math education grads excel in introducing students to the joys of learning.
At Olivet, the classes are kept smaller, to ensure every student experience the one-on-one relationship with their academic mentors.