Limestone University Teacher Education Program Receives Prestigious Leadership Recognition Award

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) recently named Limestone University as one of only nine higher education institutions to receive the 2024 Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement.

Recipients of the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement are selected from the educator preparation providers that were granted accreditation by CAEP the previous year, based on whether candidates will be prepared for the challenging responsibilities that educators face in the classroom. The universities and colleges selected are recognized as those that advance equity and excellence in educator preparation by self-evaluating and supporting the most current best-practices within the field.

The other recipients of the award included the University of Alabama, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Boise State University, Seton Hall University, Kansas State University, Belhaven University, Oklahoma Baptist College, and Otterbein University. Between all nine of the selected institutions, more than 1,700 high quality graduates are now prepared to make a positive impact in education across the United States.

“There were many standards for Limestone University's Teacher Education Program to fulfill to qualify for the award,” said Associate Professor Virginia Scates (pictured here), who is the Director and Program Coordinator for the Elementary Education program. “It is not an easy task to constantly improve the Teacher Education Program and make sure we are aligned with the current best practices in our profession. However, it is something we are dedicated to making happen each and every academic year. It is rare that institutions do not receive stipulations. Our data spoke for itself, and we were awarded full accreditation without stipulations or areas for improvement.”

CAEP accreditation serves the dual purposes of accountability and continuous improvement. A total of 559 educator preparation providers in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Bahrain, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates have been accredited under the CAEP Standards. Approximately, 600 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP Accreditation system, including some previously accredited through former standards.