Viterbo University Mission
The Viterbo University community prepares students for faithful service and ethical leadership.
Franciscan Values
- Visionary Leadership – Teachers share in the Franciscan belief that creation is an ongoing process. A teacher who helps students develop talents and abilities and a sense of fairness and justice is promoting positive change in the world and the individual.
- Service with Earth Family – A teacher gives service to humanity and exemplifies and teaches stewardship of our planet and its resources.
- Affirmation of Life and Joy – A teacher exemplifies and teaches an appreciation and zest for life and learning.
- Respect for Human Dignity – A teacher exemplifies the belief that God is present in everyone. Therefore, a teacher fosters and models an appreciation for a diversity of talents and abilities, cultures and values.
Viterbo University is committed to the integration of the liberal arts and professional studies and considers the preparation of teachers to be a responsibility of the entire university. The base of liberal studies provides the background knowledge of the traditional liberal arts disciplines and the opportunity to integrate that background into the student's teaching major/minor.
School of Education Mission
The mission of the School of Education is to prepare teachers who are grounded in Franciscan values and who possess the knowledge and skills to be effective classroom decision makers.”
Wisconsin/INTASC* Standards for Teacher Development and Licensure
- The teacher understands the central concepts, tools for inquiry, and structures of the disciplines he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for pupils.
- The teacher understands how children with broad ranges of ability learn and provides instruction that supports their intellectual, social, and personal development.
- The teacher understands how pupils differ in their approaches to learning and the barriers that impede learning and can adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of pupils, including those with disabilities and exceptionalities.
- The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies, including the use of technology to encourage children’s development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.
- The teacher uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
- The teacher uses effective verbal and nonverbal communication techniques as well as instructional media and technology to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
- The teacher organizes and plans systematic instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, pupils, the community, and curriculum goals.
- The teacher understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of the pupil.
- The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effect of his or her choices and actions on pupils, parents, professionals in the learning community and others and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
- The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support pupil learning and well being and who acts with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner.
- The teacher demonstrates personal qualities and values which reflect the Franciscan values identified in the Viterbo University teacher education conceptual framework.
*Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium Standards