Education

The Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education houses three departments: instructional leadership and academic curriculum, educational leadership and policy studies, and educational psychology.

“We educate teachers to teach advanced mathematics in high school and universities and we educate teachers to work with toddlers,” Professor Lawrence Baines said. “However, all majors in education share some features. One, students are experts in their chosen fields. Two, students work in several schools before undertaking a semester-long internship. And three, students are intelligent with a mad, altruistic streak.”

Education is a structured major according to Kathleen Pirog, elementary education senior.

“Education is not like most majors,” Pirog said. “It’s fun.”

The professors expect the students to meet their deadlines.

“Students need to be experts in their field,” Baines said. “But they also have to be able to work well with people who are different from them in every way.”

The students are held to a high standard.

“The professors expect a lot because we will be future teachers and will be held accountable for teaching other people’s kids,” Pirog said.

Thirty hours of observations are required in the education major.

“Observations are interesting,” Pirog said. “They made me think what kind of school I wanted to work in.”

Pirog said that the professors have caring personalities and are always there for you.

“The professors are awesome,” Pirog said. “They have all been teachers, so they have experience.”

Pirog said she wants to teach overseas in Spain.

“I want to work for the department of defense,” Pirog said.

Baines said graduates can teach wherever they want.

“Graduates from the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education are in high demand,” Baines said. “In an era of quick and easy certification and low teacher expectations, OU is an island of excellence. That is one reason that 100 percent of our graduates find jobs, not just in Oklahoma, but wherever they want to teach.”

Pirog said she wants to teach fifth or sixth grade.

“I’m taking double hours so I can teach middle school as well as elementary,” Pirog said. “If I pass the tests, I can teach second through eighth grade.”

Pirog is taking nineteen hours.

“My entire life is studying,” Pirog said.

Pirog said she had always wanted to teach her entire life.

“I am the sixth generation in a family of teachers,” Pirog said. “I went against the family tradition my first year. I chose journalism, then PR, but I didn’t want to do that the rest of my life.

“I’m so happy I switched. I can’t wait to be a teacher.”

Jesse Stecker is a secondary science education graduate.

“I teach biology and bio-technology at PC North,” Stecker said.

The latest lesson Stecker is teaching is forensics.

“Forensics is fun,” Stecker said. “Kids watch CSI and NCIS, so it’s applicable to their lives. It’s hands on, engaging, requires critical thinking, and I get to teach something interesting.”

Stecker said her teaching schedule is busy.

“I don’t even have mental time,” Stecker said.

Stecker said she does not regret choosing this major.

“I chose this major because I have two passions, science and people, and this is the one major that puts them together,” Stecker said. “Doctors heal people but they don’t change their lives. Teaching is one way to change the lives of young people that will run our nation.”