Changing the Educational Landscape One Student, One Teacher at a Time
Director of Educator Preparation & Field Experience Programs
At National Louis University’s Undergraduate College, our Educator Preparation Program is dedicated to recognizing our students for who they are and supporting them as they strive to become the teachers they aspire to be. With over 1,600 students, more than 75% of whom identify as students of color and first-generation college attendees, we truly embrace the responsibility of transforming the American educational landscape, one student and one teacher at a time.
In alignment with this mission, our faculty and staff have committed to their own continuous learning by engaging in year-long anti-racist and anti-bias professional development, auditing our curriculum and instruction through the lens of the Illinois State Board of Education’s Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards, and conducting self-reflection and implicit bias work.
We asked ourselves: What does it mean to see our students for who they are and how they choose to present themselves to the world? What does it mean to truly embrace “servingness” in higher education - to meet the individual needs and support the personal aspirations of each student? While the answers are still evolving, we have initiated a more holistic, culturally responsive approach to our program.
Here are three key strategies that we have adopted (and continue to refine) to help guide our work:
1. Collecting, Analyzing, and Incorporating Student Data to Inform Our Work
Through student surveys and focus groups, we have gained a deeper understanding of our students' needs and challenges. While it is important to celebrate student success, we also take an honest, critical look at areas where we may be falling short. By asking tough questions and fostering honest conversations, we have built stronger communication and trust with our students. This feedback loop enables us to co-create solutions, ensuring that our students play an active role in shaping their educational experience: our students now help us to help them.
2. Expanding the NLU Educator Preparation Community
Despite the recent politicization of the word “inclusion,” we remain steadfast in our belief that the feelings of inclusion and belonging are essential to any learning environment. As a result, we have strengthened existing partnerships and established new ones with impactful, like-minded educational organizations. One standout initiative is our “Somos Familia” Orientation, launched in Fall 2024. In response to our students’ feedback about a disconnect between their family life and university experience, we created an orientation that brought families into the fold. This event blended information-sharing with celebration, featuring music, games, photo albums, and food. By engaging families—our students’ primary support systems—we have fostered a deeper sense of community.
3. Adopting a Culturally Responsive Approach to Education Policy
Many higher education policies emphasize “equality” over “equity,” adopting a one-size-fits-all framework that does not align with the diverse needs of our student body. Every student is unique, including their needs and challenges. Recognizing this, we have re-examined our own policies, striving to interpret and adapt them to support students on a case-by-case basis. By understanding that fairness often requires flexibility and accommodation, depending on individual student’s circumstances, we aim to ensure that all students have an equitable opportunity to succeed.
These strategies represent just the beginning of our journey. We acknowledge that we do not have all the answers, but by asking the right questions and engaging collaboratively with our students, we are taking meaningful steps toward creating lasting change in education. Like you, at National Louis University we are committed to being the change we wish to see in the world.
