Teacher Education Program (TEP)

  • Welcome to the Teacher Education Program Website. If you are a new teacher candidate, OTCP1-200x300.jpgcongratulations on having reached this important milestone in your professional career. The information on this website has been carefully selected and organized to answer many important questions about the teacher licensure programs in the College of Education.

    If you are interested in becoming a teacher, but not yet admitted to the Teacher Education Program, please visit our Teacher Education Program page to check out the Paths to Becoming a Teacher.

    The Teacher Education Program (TEP) is a committee composed of faculty members and administrators committed to supporting, encouraging, and working with teachers in the College of Education.

    Our mission is to produce highly qualified educators to serve New Mexico’s diverse communities.

    To submit your portfolio please see TEP Admission.


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    Becoming a Teacher

    Find the best way to earn your teaching license…

    No college degree?

    One way to earn a license is to complete a bachelor’s degree in an approved teacher preparation program. The first step is to apply to the university and declare a major. NMSU’s College of Education has a wide array of exciting Undergraduate teaching programs.

    Bachelor’s degree or higher but no teacher prep?

    If you already have a bachelor’s degree or higher, you can earn your teaching license through a post-baccalaureate licensure program while you teach now on an intern license. See our Graduate Programs page for admission to our Licensure and Teacher Education Programs.

    Licensed elsewhere?

    If you have a teaching license from another state or another country, you can teach apply for a NM teaching license under reciprocity and teach now.  More information about NM’s 3-Tiered Licensure system is available at on NM Public Education Department (PED) Licensure page.

     

  • TEP Application & Admissions

    Admissions into the Teacher Education Program (TEP) requires a professional TEP portfolio and TEP interview. To progress into the upper division Teaching Methods block courses, students must successfully pass the TEP admissions criteria.

    Please visit the TEP website for a complete overview of requirements, instructions for preparing the portfolio, and submission portal link. (https://tpal.nmsu.edu/admissions/tep-admission.html)

    Please read all information provided on the TEP website carefully. It is important that you follow the TEP portfolio instructions described on the webiste and instructions packet. Fully complete your portfolio and submit to the College of HEST by the appropriate deadline. Portfolios that are incomplete or received past the due date will need to be resubmitted the following semester.

    The Teacher Education Program Committee will review online portfolios three times a year, in the Fall, Spring, and Summer. Given that you have met the criteria listed in the TEP instructions packet (available on TEP website), upload your completed portfolio to the Teacher Education Program portal (link available on TEP website) no later than noon (MST) on:

    3rd Friday in September for Fall,

    3rd Friday in February for the Spring,

    3rd Friday in July for the Summer
    Confirm exact date on the TEP website or by contacting the Teacher Education Program office at the beginning of each semester (646-2669).

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  • Student Teaching Information and Application

    Student teaching is completed during the senior year. Each student spends a full semester in the classroom with an in-service teacher. Placements are made through the TEP Office of the College of HEST. Most students remain in the local districts, but there are opportunities abroad

    STEP application packets are due the semester before Student Teaching 

    The STEP application portal will open 10 business days prior to the submission deadline.  For the Spring 2024 STEP Submission, the portal will open on February 19th, 2024, with all completed applications due by noon on March 1st, 2024.

    STEP Submission

    Students will submit their STEP packets using the online STEP submission portal (link provided below). Completed STEP application packets are due on:

    • the 1st Friday in March (for Spring submission) and
    • the 1st Friday in October (for Fall submission).
    Late or incomplete STEP applications will not be accepted.

    STEP Instructions Packet

    Ready to submit your STEP Packet?  Use the link below to access the STEP Portal to submit your documents:

    SUBMIT HERE

    There will also be a placement meeting for students who are approved for student teaching.  Information shared at this placement meeting includes: campus placement, cooperating teacher, grade, tentative schedule for student teaching, basic lesson plan format and reflection process, substitute teaching policy, explanation of TRIAD meetings and the cooperating teacher handbook. The date and time for the placement meeting will be shared with students upon acceptance.  This placement meeting is a mandatory meeting.  Information regarding the date and time for the STEP Placement Meeting will be shared via email by the TEP Program Directors

    The following application resources are required for the student teaching packet.  Download them in order to complete the resource, and then upload with your STEP packet.
    Program Area
    		 Student Info Card Self-Evaluation Lesson Plan Template
    Early Childhood Education ECED Student Info Card ECED Self-Evaluation ECED Lesson Template
    Elementary Education ELEM Student Info Card ELEM Self-Evaluation ELEM Lesson Template
    Special Education

    SPED/ELEM use the ELEM Student Info Card

    SPED/Secondary use the SED Student Info Card

    		 SPED Self-Evaluation

    SPED/ELEM use the ELEM Lesson Template

    SPED/Secondary use the Secondary Lesson Template
    Secondary Education  (with Music Ed)

    SED Student Info Card

    Music Info Card

    		 Secondary Self-Evaluation Secondary Lesson Template
    K-12 Physical Education PE Student Info Card use the Secondary Self-Evaluation

    PE Elem Lesson Template

    PE Secondary Lesson Template

     

     

    Praxis Licensure Exams required for Spring 2023 and Fall 2023 Student Teachers:

    For Spring 2024 student teachers and beyond, new testing requirements will go into effect

    Program Area When to take exam Testing Requirement (test #) Qualifying Score
    Early Childhood Education During Student Teaching Education of Young Children (5024) 160
    Elementary Education Before STEP Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (5017) 153
    During Student Teaching Teaching Reading: Elementary Education (5205)

     

    Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K-6 (5622)

    		 159

     

    160
    Secondary Education Before STEP

     

    (take the specific exam for your content area)

    English Language Arts: Content Knowledge (5038)

    General Sciences: Content Knowledge (5435)

    Mathematics: Content Knowledge (5165)

    Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081)

    167

    152

    159

    154
    During Student Teaching Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 (5624) 157
    Special Education Before STEP Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5354)

     

    *If SPED/Secondary, must also take Content Knowledge Exam listed above

    		 151

     

     

     
    During Student Teaching Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K-6 (5622)

    OR

    Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 (5624)

    		 160

     

     

    157
    Music Education Before STEP Music: Content Knowledge (5113) 161
    During Student Teaching Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K-6 (5622)

    OR

    Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 (5624)

    		 160

     

     

    157
    Physical Education Before STEP Physical Education: Content Knowledge (5091) 148
    During Student Teaching Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K-6 (5622)

    OR

    Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 (5624)

    		 160

     

     

    157
      

  • Early Childhood Education

    Dr. Violet Henderson

    College Associate Professor Clinical Director, Early Childhood Teacher Education Program
    ECED, TEP

    violeth@nmsu.edu

    (575) 646-1537 | TEP Office

    Elementary Education

    Dr. Leanna Lucero

    Assistant Professor Clinical Director, Elementary Teacher Education
    TEP, MCE


    leannal@nmsu.edu
    (575) 646-2205 | O’Donnell Hall Room 135

     

     

    Secondary Education

    Dr. Tracey Gorham Blanco

    College Associate Professor Clinical Director, Secondary Teacher Education
    TEP
    tgblanco@nmsu.edu
    575-646-4161 | O’Donnell Hall Room 101D

    Special Education

    Dr. Yvonne Moreno

    College Assistant Professor
    SPED

    yvmoreno@nmsu.edu
    (575) 646-2903 | O’Donnell Hall Room OH 302C

     

     

    Alternative Licensure

    Dr. Cecilia M. Hernandez

    College Associate Professor
    TEP
    cecimh@nmsu.edu
    (575) 646-1256 | O’Donnell Hall 101B

    Principal Licensure

    Dr. Pamela Gray

    Assistant Professor
    ELAD
    pgray@nmsu.edu
    575-646-2434 | Room 205B, O’Donnell Hall

     

     

    Visual Impairment Program Licensure

    Dr., Loana Mason

    College Assistant Professor Clinical Director, Visual Impairment Program
    SPED
    loanam@nmsu.edu
    (502) 523-5907

    Director, School of TPAL

    Dr. Rick Marlatt

    Associate Professor - Interim Director, School of TPAL
    LLC, TEP

    rmarlatt@nmsu.edu
    (575) 646-1758 | O’Donnell Hall Room 302J