About the School of Education

Find your passion in education

Welcome to the School of Education!

We're thrilled to have you join our vibrant community of educators. Here, you'll be surrounded by faculty members who are not only experts in their fields but also passionate about inspiring the next generation of learners. Through our innovative curriculum, you'll gain the knowledge and skills you need to become a successful educator, from mastering subject-area content to developing engaging lesson plans and fostering a nurturing classroom environment. Get ready for an enriching journey of learning, growth, and collaboration. We'll provide you with the support and resources you need to thrive, and together, we'll prepare you to ignite young minds and make a lasting impact on the future.

"#EmpoweredTeachersEmpowerTheirStudents" - Dr. LaSheba Hilliard, Alumni

Our Legacy

Created in 1903, the School of Education (SOE) is dedicated to the preparation of persons for effective leadership and service in the school and community. The School operates under a continuous improvement model which enables students, faculty, and public school partners to remain current in the "best practice" of the profession.

The School of Education's professional programs operate from a well-developed strategic action plan that first evolved in 1985. The plan has been revisited and updated continually. The plan aligns purposefully with the university's goals and builds upon essential knowledge and skills, research findings and sound professional practice. The knowledge base for each of the School’s academic programs serves as a foundation of the school's conceptual framework , “Educators as Reflective Professionals.”

The SOE's conceptual framework, mission, and vision statements attest to the commitment of faculty and staff, whose dedication and scholarly pursuits inspire curricular models and bring a spirit of innovation. All this translates into an outstanding education for students in the School, who graduate as reflective professionals with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to facilitate lifelong learning in an interactive and diverse society. In harmony with this conceptual framework, the strategic plan continues to be modified as stakeholders revisit issues annually. The School seeks to make the plan a dynamic document based on current research and societal needs. The School of Education is proud of its legacy and optimistic about the future.

Conceptual Framework

The School of Education's theme, "Educators as Reflective Professionals", captures the mission and vision of the unit and offers direction for systematic and continuous review and improvement of its professional development programs.
Image reads: Imagine Equality, Excellence, Caring; Innovate Collaboration, Professional Practice, Assessment; Inspire Professionalism, Transformation, Leadership

SOE Strategic Plan 2020

The current strategic plan emerged from the university's UM/2020 Strategic Plan with three Flagship Goals and Seven Priorities of Excellence. The School of Education has created 15 goals directly aligned with the university's priorities of excellence. These goals will help the School of Education advanced into the 21st century to meet the needs of an ever-changing society.

A Welcome Message from Dean Rock:

"As Dean of the School of Education at The University of Mississippi, I would like to personally welcome you to our website. Within the School of Education, our dedicated faculty and staff strive to provide a creative and supportive environment that utilizes a variety of educational and innovative experiences for all candidates. The School of Education has adopted the mission to provide exemplary instruction, relevant research and effective service through collaboration with schools, businesses, community organizations and the public at large. Specifically, the school's goal is to prepare reflective professionals who positively and effectively interact with persons diverse in race, culture, gender, age, ability, and/or developmental level.

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By supporting this mission, the School of Education is the leader in the development of quality educators, leaders, counselors, and higher education professionals for the region, state and nation. The School of Education is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Our licensure programs are fully approved by the State of Mississippi, while the Counselor Education programs are fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and the music education program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

I encourage you to stop by any of our professional offices located at Guyton Hall (Ole Miss Campus), UM-DeSoto (Southaven), UM-Booneville (North East Mississippi Community College), UM-Grenada (Holmes Community College), or UM-Tupelo (Advanced Education Center).

We are proud of our innovative programs such as our TeachLive Laboratory that uses state-of-the-art technology to create a mixed-reality teaching environment through human directed avatars. Our Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program provides the top education scholarship in the nation for individuals seeking to make a impact in Mississippi schools. I am confident that you will be impressed with our facilities and resources afforded to professionals inside and outside the School of Education. If we can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Dr. David Rock
Dean, School of Education