Teacher Education @ PennGSE

Why PennGSE

Our new Dean, Dr. Andrew Porter, would like to offer his perspective on why to pursue teacher preparation at PennGSE:

“There are a few important things I'd like you to think about as you learn more about Penn GSE and our programs in teacher education. First, GSE is a small school and this helps foster a strong intellectual community — people at GSE know each other well, and students come to know faculty particularly well. Also, GSE works hard to take advantage of the larger intellectual community at Penn — we value collaborations across the disciplines and with other schools. For such a small school, though, GSE has a big impact on the local and national educational stages. GSE's focus on urban education prepares prospective teachers for the challenges and rewards that come with teaching in the big city. The program's hands-on aspects mean that you'll be in the neighborhood and in the classroom from the beginning of your program, so you'll really be able to get to know your students and the many communities in which they live and go to school. Finally, GSE works with policymakers and educators nationally and internationally to apply our knowledge to improve education in the real world."

The teacher education programs at PennGSE have several strengths that potential students find appealing:

Our commitment to transformative teaching as a means to enact social justice;
Our commitment to the school children and communities in Philadelphia;
Our inquiry focus as a way to bridge theory and practice and connect to the rich intellectual underpinnings of teaching.

At the University of Pennsylvania, you'll find an Ivy League school with a history of innovation in interdisciplinary education and scholarship. You'll also find a picturesque campus amidst a dynamic city and a world-class research institution.

Penn carries on the principles and spirit of its founder, Benjamin Franklin: entrepreneurship, innovation, invention, outreach, and a pragmatic love of knowledge. Franklin's practical outlook has remained a driving force in the university's development.

Today Penn is home to a diverse undergraduate student body of nearly 10,000, hailing from every state in the union and all around the globe. Another 10,000 students are enrolled in Penn's 12 graduate and professional schools, which are national leaders in their fields. The Wharton School is consistently one of the nation's top three business schools. The School of Nursing is one of the two best in the U.S. The School of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Education, Law School, School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, and Annenberg School for Communication all rank among the top 10 schools in their fields.