MOREHOUSE CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

The Morehouse Center for Excellence in Education engages in  an integrated array of programming designed to better prepare educators for careers of consequence and foster thought leadership about effective education practices.

• Educator Preparation - Majors and Minors - Teacher Preparation and Certification
• Bridging the Theory and Practice Gap - The Laboratory School at Utopian Academy - Guest Lecture Series - Education Policy and Practice Tour
• Communities of Practice - The My Brother's Teacher Project - Aspiring Principals Program
• Impacting the Ecosystem - ELITE Educator Pathways - MCEE Fellows Program - MCEE Research Lab

We prepare educators through academic programming that is interdisciplinary and experiential. There are multiple ways for Morehouse students to prepare for careers and advanced study in the field of education.

Majors and Minors

• Education Studies  (Non-certification) 

Students can pursue Education Studies as a major or minor. As a major, Education Studies is a four-year, non-certification degree program for students interested in studying the discipline of education. The interdisciplinary designed curriculum will promote the development of a critical educator who values and pursues inquiry, truth, and knowledge about human development, the science of learning, and the influence of race, culture, and society on education. Students will explore education from historical, philosophical, cultural, political, and scientific perspectives. The major also includes a comparative studies approach to foster student understanding of the differences and similarities among models and systems of education at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Students will also participate in a culminating three-semester research and an experiential capstone experience.

• Elementary Education

The Elementary Education major leads to licensure and prepares students to teach at the P-5 level. While Elementary Education majors will be assigned a Faculty Advisor within the Morehouse Education Department, this program requires students to complete all major courses at Spelman College.

• Secondary Education - Certification

The teacher preparation program is a minor that leads to a Georgia Teaching Certificate. Morehouse students majoring in Biology and Computer Science must meet the admissions requirements outlined in the Candidate Handbook and follow the Course of Study for licensure and their respective majors.

Additional Teacher Preparation and Certification Areas

Students who major in the following areas and desire to teach can apply for admission to the Educator Preparation Program at Spelman College:

• Elementary Education (grades P-5)
• Chemistry
• English
• History
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Political Science
• Spanish (grades K-5)
• Music (grades K-5)

The Laboratory School at Utopian Academy

The Morehouse Lab School at Utopian is MCEE’s first Demonstration Site where Morehouse students can receive real-time teacher training and observe and shadow school personnel. Utopian faculty participate in MCEE-designed professional development and practitioner research initiatives

Guest Lecture Series

The CANDLE Lecture Series occurs twice per year and features national thought leaders, scholars, and practitioners who have contributed to the field of education in the following areas: Cultural Competence, Race and Equity, STEM, Innovation and Technology and Leadership.

Education Policy and Practice Tour

MCEE offers 2-3 Policy and Practice Tours per year for students considering careers as teachers, school leaders, or other educational roles. Students explore various school models that are geographically and demographically diverse. Tours include visits to traditional public, charter, independent and boarding schools. The policy leg of the tour comprises attending Local and State Board of Education meetings and one-on-one sessions with elected officials, advocacy groups, and policymakers.

The My Brother’s Teacher Project

Through support and funding from the Gilead Foundation, MCEE is launching the My Brother’s Teacher Initiative (MBTP). This inter-generational mentorship program supports the professional and personal development of pre-service, new and veteran educators. The goal of the MBTP is to help eliminate feelings of professional and personal isolation faced by Black male students, teachers, and leaders. Our thoughtfully planned events and activities knit together a strong community of Black male educators and students who will benefit from this initiative's tutoring, advising, connections, and mentoring.

Aspiring Principals Program

The Impact of a Morehouse Educator (TIME)

MCEE is collecting the stories of hundreds of Morehouse Men who are currently serving or have previously served in the education sector. We are creating the TIME Database that includes Morehouse alumni teachers, school or district leaders, board members, professors, and those who lead or work in youth-serving organizations.

ELITE Educator Pathways

Through our ELITE Pathways into Education program, Education Studies Majors and Minors are introduced to various careers in Education. ELITE is an acronym for Explore, Lead, Innovate, Teach and Engage. Students who are interested in education but not quite sure if the classroom is where they are best suited can go through a Self-Discovery Advisory Session. These sessions guide students through the ELITE Pathways, which helps them customize their courses and match them with internships and opportunities with our Pathway Partners. Education Studies majors will be introduced to the Education Ecosystem during the Introduction to Education Course and the pre-advising process. Students will learn about the various career options and areas of advance study that exist in the education sector through programs, activities, courses, and internships that align with the ELITE Educator Pathways.

• EXPLORE (Exposes students to Education Policy, Advocacy, and Research) – This pathway addresses educational issues and policies that impact communities, students, and their families. Connects students to aligned graduate school programs as well as opportunities in organizations and agencies that focus on policy, diversity, equity, inclusion, and educational research.
• LEAD (Exposes students to Leadership and the Business of Education) – This pathway promotes mastery and understanding of school and district operations, finances and leadership beyond the classroom and school. Introduces students to roles in finance, human resources, and related district-level roles.
• INNOVATE (Exposes students to Social Entrepreneurship in Education) – This pathway supports students who desire to establish innovative programs and design new school and instructional models. Students will have opportunities to develop and integrate digital tools, new and emerging methods that support teaching and learning.
• TEACH (Prepares students for Teaching and Alternative Certification) Students who decide after Sophomore year that they want to teach, can take pedagogy/foundation courses, participate in internships, fellowships and field placements that prepare them for the classrooms in various settings, including charter, private, and international schools.
• ENGAGE (Exposes Students to Community and Family Engagement Opportunities) This pathway examines the education sector from outside of the traditional brick and mortar school setting. Introduces students to opportunities in youth serving non-profits such as the Boys and Girls Club and youth ministries, as well as organizations that offer environmental, museum, adult literacy and arts education.

MCEE Fellows Program

The MCEE Fellows Program provides opportunities for students from various majors to engage with the Center. Fellows support and participate in Center initiatives, serve as ambassadors, attend conferences, receive mentoring and professional development opportunities.

• Teaching Fellows Who’s eligible: education majors and minors. Fellows will serve as ambassadors, promote and participate in campus-wide activities and initiatives sponsored by MCEE.
• My Brother’s Teacher Fellowship
• Research Fellows Who’s eligible: all majors. Priority given to students with research experience. Fellows will collect, analyze and organize data, and will assist with writing and publishing articles.
• Leadership Fellows Who’s eligible: By nomination only
• Graduate and Doctoral Fellows Who’s eligible: Morehouse Alumni pursuing a graduate or terminal degree in education. Must be committed to the mission and goals of MCEE. Fellows will support and participate in research activities, and work closely with the Director and Department Faculty to develop goals for their Fellowship.

MCEE Research Lab

The MCEE Research Lab supports and nurtures the big, revolutionary ideas of our students, faculty and research partners. The lab incubates the most promising concepts that emerge from our student’s real-world projects. The Lab also has a focus on practitioner research, the collection and analysis of educational trend data, as well as publication and dissemination of Morehouse-generated scholarship.