Hanover Education Department
When I think about my years in the Hanover Education Department, I think about the close working relationships I developed with my professors. Each professor provided me with opportunities to become a better teacher by planning meaningful lessons, inviting guest presenters for workshops, and giving me a chance to work with kids. Outside the classroom, professors were always available for help and each one spent a lot of their time giving advice and preparing their students for their teaching career. The hospitality of the professors even extended off-campus as many hosted dinners at their own house.
I would never have felt so confident going into my first year of teaching if it wasn't for each of my professors, and they are a big reason why Hanover students become inspiring and innovative teachers.
Bruce Saulter '05
3rd Grade Teacher, Grade Chair | Royal Palm Beach Elementary School
Why Study Education?
Deciding upon a career or vocation can be an intimidating task, and you may be wondering if education would be a good fit for you. If any of the following is true for you, then the Education Department at Hanover College may be just what you have been searching for.
You enjoy:
• Working with kids
• Helping others
• Explaining concepts
• Being a role model
• Life-long learning
You want to:
• Be a catalyst for change
• Influence young people
• Be a leader
• Travel abroad
• Research your interests
• Have a meaningful and relevant academic and social career
What Hanover Education Offers
Some of the most important and influential people in a child's life are their teachers. Everyone deserves the opportunity to excel in life and an education provides this opportunity. Educators are those very inspirational people who prepare and encourage young minds to discover and follow their passion.
Your academic experience in the Hanover Education Department will be complemented by exposure to new experiences and new people. This, along with close, personal attention from our committed faculty will help to make you a highly qualified educator, well-versed in a variety of teaching areas and having a broad general education background.
Our department has strong relationships with area school leaders so that students in the teacher certification program have the opportunity to observe and participate in K-12 classrooms, beginning with their first education course. All students complete a teaching practicum, student teaching, and an urban teaching experience. Both elementary and secondary education students complete their liberal arts studies while working on their teaching certification. All of these elements are designed to provide you with a practical and meaningful academic experience that will serve as the foundation of your professional path.
By providing students with practical experience and a comprehensive education, the education department at Hanover prepares students for graduate school and fulfilling professional careers.
Highlights 
Hands-on Learning
The education program at Hanover emphasizes experience in the field. Through the program's relationship with various schools, you will be able to put your knowledge to the test and experience teaching first hand. In addition to your student teaching, you can gain valuable urban teaching experience at a school in Louisville, Cincinnati, or Indianapolis. Hanover's secondary education program has relationships with Ben Davis and Arlington high schools in Indianapolis, as well as Central High School in Louisville. The elementary education program regularly works with Engelhard Elementary and Hawthorne Elementary in Louisville and Eastbrook Elementary in Indianapolis.
Highly Experienced and Dedicated Faculty
The education program's dedicated faculty will give you the independence you want and the support you need to grow both academically and personally. The faculty's diverse experience allows students to pursue a variety of focuses and their experiences include extensive teaching in various grades, working with children with disabilities, nonprofit administration, and museum programming.
Accreditation
Hanover College is fully accredited by the Indiana Department of Education professional standards division to offer courses leading to teacher certification in Elementary (Grades K-6) and Secondary (5-12). Hanover is also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Certification
Hanover does more than just provide the foundation and coursework needed to prepare students for teaching careers. We offer you an intense preparation in the subject of your choice.
In order to become a teacher, students need to be certified, working toward a teaching license in addition to their college degree. Students who successfully complete Hanover's teaching certification program qualify for and obtain an Indiana teacher's license. For students wishing to teach in Kentucky, Ohio or elsewhere nationally, the Education Department assists students in obtaining their license out-of-state. When you graduate from Hanover you will be licensed and prepared to teach!
Opportunities for Research
You will be able to apply what you've learned in the classroom and explore a topic of interest to you when you complete a research project that addresses important issues in education. During this time you will work closely with faculty members to complete library research, interviews, and fieldwork.
Recent student research projects have included:
- Cindy Koester ' 07 with Dr. Debbie Hanson - Created a science curriculum to be used with the Nature Trail at Southwestern Elementary School.
- Anne Haskins (Transition to Teaching program), Danielle Manzo ' 07 , and Michaelia Gilbert ' 08 with Dr. Kay Williams - Evaluation of multi-cultural curriculum relative to Cherokee Indians.
- Paige Bradley ' 07 and Cassie Wallace (2007) with Judith Roberts - College Students and Engagement in Reading Assignments
Students will also have the opportunity to work side by side with various faculty members as they are actively engaged in research projects of their own.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Hanover Education program have an excellent placement track record, with more than 90 percent of graduates being placed in teaching positions. In fact, 92 percent of our 2006 graduates were offered positions within four months.
The 2006 Elementary (K-6) Education Program placements included:
• St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary (Indianapolis)
• Brentwood Elementary School (Plainfield)
• Andrew J. Brown Academy (Indianapolis)
• Loper Elementary School (Shelbyville)
• Bradie Schrum Lower Elementary (Salem)
• Austin Elementary School (Austin)
The 2006 Secondary Education Program placements included:
• South Ripley Jr./Sr. High School (Versailles)
• Southside Middle School (Anderson)
• Bishop Chatard High School (Indianapolis)
• Eastside Middle School (Anderson)
Previous graduates' professional placements outside the classroom have included:
• Campus Crusade for Christ
• Girls and Boys Club
Hanover College alums of the Education program hold positions such as these:
• Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction
• President of the University of New Hampshire
• President Rider University (Lawrenceburg, NJ)
• Director of Curriculum and Instruction (Carroll County, KY)
Previous graduate school placements have included:
• Purdue University
• Indiana University
• Seattle University