California Lutheran University's School of Education celebrates its 25th Anniversary since its formation as a graduate school. As part of the 25th Anniversary celebration, the school has been renamed to the Graduate School of Education. The change highlights CLU's leadership in educational research, its commitment to professional development and a significant investment in providing excellent teacher mentors for local K-12 schools.
CLU's variety of graduate programs in teacher education, special education, counseling and guidance, and educational leadership, demonstrate a significant commitment to prepare the next generation of academic professionals. Nearly 8,000 CLU graduates are working in K-12 public and private schools and universities, meeting the challenges of educating youth today.
CLU values the continued support of its graduate students, alumni, staff, faculty and friends. Thank you for sharing in this celebration and partnering with us to shape the next 25 years!
Meet the Silver Anniversary Alumni
A Tradition of Excellence
- Accredited by the national accrediting body, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the state accrediting body, California Commission on Teaching Credentialing (CCTC).
- Since the department's beginning in 1966 we have prepared nearly 8,000 teachers, principals, superintendents, and counselors to face the challenges of educating our youth today.
- Our faculty are leading scholars in research on cultural proficiency, the executive leadership of district superintendents, professional development schools, social-emotional curriculum, planning for English Language learners, doctoral degree achievement, and best practices in accreditation.
- Doctoral Degree-granting school that has prepared 84 doctoral alumni in educational leadership, and graduated its first cohort of the Higher Education program in Educational Leadership in May 2011.
A few stats on our doctoral alumni:- 28 Principals/School Leaders
- 22 in Higher Education positions
- 5 Office of Education level administrators
- 3 School Psychologists
- 2 School District Leaders
- GSOE has been referred to as "A light on the hill in Ventura County."
A Tradition of Innovation
- Assistant Dean Deb Erickson, Ed.D., obtained a highly competitive federal grant to provide an online program for teachers to clear their credential.
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher Preparation program led by Special Education Department Chair, Maura Martindale, Ed.D., is the only program of its kind in California preparing public school teachers to work with students who are deaf and hard of hearing.
- Project ACT under Michael McCambridge, Ed.D. has trained 50 elementary teachers in the Moorpark Unified School District on an arts integration approach to teaching that has proven to improve student achievement and teacher efficacy.
- Our Department of Teacher Education has one of the few successful and long-term Professional Development School (PDS) partnerships with a secondary school (Los Cerritos Middle School) in the United States. Our formal strategic partnerships with Los Cerritos Middle School in the Conejo Unified School District going on its fourth year as well as Flory Academy of Science and Technology in Moorpark Unified School District going on its fifth year, under the leadership of Michael Cosenza, Ed.D. provide students an opportunity to practice theory in a realistic environment working for one or two semesters alongside a veteran cooperating teacher, giving them the opportunity to connect theory to practice.
- 1983 Title VII Bilingual grant gave CLU the opportunity to prepare bilingual educators who helped shape the educational landscape in Ventura County.
A Tradition of Service
- The California Reading & Literature Project (CRLP) led by Nancy Myers improves PreK-12 student achievement by providing high quality professional development institutes and leadership training that deepens teachers’ content knowledge and strengthens their leadership skills. Since 2000, CRLP has trained 5,371 teachers throughout Ventura, Kern and Santa Barbara Counties on strategies for working with English Language learners. CLU CRLP is the only program of its kind housed at a private university.
- Project CARE2 (Creating A Resilient Environment & Collaborative Asset-Rich Education) under the leadership of Diana Stephens, Ph.D. has trained more than 100 teachers, 25 staff, 5 counselors, and 1650 students in four elementary schools in the Ventura Unified School District on mindfulness practices, imbedding social-emotional learning in every classroom, to develop resilient school environments. This framework has contributed to closing of the achievement gap between more advantaged and lesser advantaged students, increased time-on-task teaching, and reduced behavioral issues and suspensions.
- Recognized for strong community outreach and collaboration with K-12 schools.
