North Central College - Naperville, IL
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Secondary Education

Why choose secondary education at North Central College?

Our secondary education graduates enjoy rewarding careers at nationally ranked high schools and middle schools. That’s no surprise, since our full-time faculty—some of the best around—mentor you through a rigorous curriculum and field experience schedule, then help you identify the opportunities that will make all the difference for your education and your career. The Illinois State Board of Education, using National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards, recognizes North Central College as fully accredited in art, biology, chemistry, English, history, math, music and physical education and foreign language certifications in Spanish, French and German.

You can also:

  • Acquire excellent teacher preparation at renowned middle and high schools.
  • Prepare for state certification to begin your teaching career.
  • Gain a special education endorsement through the new concentration in Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS I).
  • Meet potential employers at on-campus job fairs.
  • Major in a field in which you want to teach such as art, music, the sciences, history or English.

News

Elizabeth Burrow
Elizabeth Burrow earns 2012 Outstanding Major in Literature Award
Elizabeth Burrow of Westmont was awarded the 2012 Outstanding Major in Literature Award during Honors Day May 15 at North Central College.
Lucas Steidinger
Lucas Steidinger earns 2012 Clarence Juhnke Award for Outstanding Major in Music
Lucas Steidinger of Loves Park, Ill., was awarded the 2012 Clarence Juhnke Award during Honors Day May 15 at North Central College.
Anna Laky
Anna Laky earns 2012 Outstanding Major in Chemistry Award
Anna Laky of Villa Park was awarded the 2012 Outstanding Major in Chemistry Award during Honors Day May 15 at North Central College.
more news

News

Careers

Secondary education graduates frequently find teaching positions in districts within a 30-mile radius of North Central, like:

  • Aurora School Districts
  • Chicago Public Schools
  • Naperville School District 203
  • Naperville Indian Prairie School District 204
  • Plainfield School District 202

Feature

Sheri Starks

Secondary education major

Sheri, a chemistry and physics teacher at Richards High School in Oak Lawn, IL, was recently selected to participate in a program with Argonne National Laboratory. “It includes three summers of research and a grant for classroom equipment,” Sheri says. “I’ve already been able to share my experiences with my students; they really enjoy hearing about how science is used in the real world.” Thanks to her Argonne research, her students have built nanocrystalline solar cells and worked with ferrofluids. Starks is acutely aware of the need to keep her students engaged. She works hard to make the field appealing to young people, especially her female students. “I explain that science can be very social,” she says. “They think it’s just old men isolated in a laboratory. I show them pictures of my friends and me in a lab or attending the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research in California.”

Feature

Phillip Rossberg

Secondary Education

After taking his first education class, Phillip was sold on teaching. “I realized I wanted to work with students. And teaching physical education gives students skills and strategies early in life to live more healthy lifestyles.”

His practical experience started early with practicums in middle and high schools and expanded to student teaching at an area high school. “What’s great about North Central is they give you experience teaching in different environments, cultures and economic levels. You’re better prepared.”

His professors were a big factor in his preparation too. “With small classes, you get more one-on-one time with your professors. And they have an open-door policy. If you have questions about teaching or anything, you can call or email and they get back to you right away.”

Phillip added a minor in secondary education to his majors in athletic training and physical education and plans to pursue teaching physical education, coaching or do athletic training at a middle or high school.

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