School of Education | Bellarmine University

Join a leading university for educator preparation.

The mission of the Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education (AFTSE) is to prepare caring, effective educators in the Catholic liberal arts tradition of Bellarmine University to teach and lead in diverse settings. The AFTSE is a leading education school in the region.

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Top 10% in Educator Preparation

The AFTSE is a recipient of the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This signifies accreditation with no stipulations or areas of improvement, demonstrating "commitment to equity and excellence in educator preparation through the effective use of self-study procedures and evidence-based reporting." Fewer than 10% of educator preparation providers met these standards.

teacher oversees young students practicing math

Free Tuition Opportunity for STEM Degree Holders

Funded by the NSF’s Robert Noyce program, the Noyce Knights Scholars Program aims to prepare, support and certify highly qualified diverse middle and high school science and mathematics teachers. If you hold a STEM degree, you can qualify for free tuition.

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Educator as Reflective Learner

The theme of the AFTSE, Educator as Reflective Learner, is consistent with the mission of the institution and with the philosophy of the education faculty and community partners, as well as with the various programs for candidates. The theme is based on Linda Valli’s five types of reflection: technical, reflection in- and on-action, personalistic, deliberative, and critical. This theme captures the essence of the conceptual framework in that effective educators are called to reflect consistently and systematically on their own practice—as well as mentor and collaborate with their colleagues in reflective practice—in order to advance successful professional learning communities within schools and the broader community.