Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Elementary School Teachers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Mid-Continent University and Western Kentucky University.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Midway College, Spalding University, Mid-Continent University, and Kentucky State.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Midway College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Kentucky State and Spalding University.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Mid-Continent University, Spalding University, University of the Cumberlands, and Lindsey Wilson College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Kentucky State, Berea, Asbury, and Kentucky Christian.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Centre College, Kentucky Christian, Berea, and Asbury.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Centre College, Transylvania University, Asbury, and University of Louisville.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Alice Lloyd, Berea, Kentucky State, and Union College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Centre College, Berea, Brescia, and Transylvania University.
Working as an Elementary School Teacher in Kentucky
Elementary school teachers provide intellectual and social education to youth according to national and state standards. Through positive feedback, role modeling, mentoring, experiential learning, facilitating interaction and fun, they communicate the concepts and information that are fundamental to the future development of children. Read a detailed Elementary School Teacher job description and schools overview.
Voluntary certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Certification for Professional Teaching Standards can provide competitive advantage for job seekers. The Kentucky Association of Professional Educators and Kentucky Education Association are associations that can provide professional development resources.
State Requirements for Elementary School Teachers in Kentucky
The State of Kentucky requires that elementary school teachers be certified by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board and meet the following standards:
Candidates trained in Kentucky will need the following:
- Completion of a teaching program from a state-approved college or university
- Proof of full-time classroom teaching experience at the appropriate grade level(s)
- Passing score on the Praxis II Specialty Area test for EACH area of certification
- Passing score on the Principles of Learning and Teaching test score for appropriate grade range
- Official transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate coursework
Candidates trained in other states will need the following:
- Completion of a state approved teaching program at a regionally accredited educator preparation institution or a state-approved alternative training program
- Compliance with state ancillary requirements such as testing, GPA and internship
- Passing score on the Praxis II Specialty Area test for EACH area of certification (if less than two years of appropriate full-time teaching experience)
- Passing score on the Principles of Learning and Teaching test score for appropriate grade range
- Proof of any out-of-state teaching experience
- Official transcripts of all college and graduate coursework
- Current testing requirements are waived for applicants with a valid certificate who have completed two years of teaching in the subject area and grade level
Major Industries for Elementary School Teachers in Kentucky
Most elementary school teachers work for public or private elementary schools and educational support services.
Major Employers for Elementary School Teachers in Kentucky
A few representative major employers of elementary school teachers in Kentucky include:
- Christian County Public Schools (Elementary School)
- Jefferson County Public School (Elementary School)
- Lexington Christian Academy (Elementary School)
- Ockerman Elementary School (Elementary School)
- A M Yealey Elementary School (Elementary School)
- Erpenbeck Elementary School (Elementary School)
- Hardinsburg Elementary School (Elementary School)
- Olive Hill Elementary School (Elementary School)
- Thomson Learning (Education Center)
- Education Technology (Educational Service)
- Kentucky School Boards Association (Educational Consultants)
- La Grange Elementary (Education Center)
- Northern Kentucky Cooperative (Educational Consultants)
- Creative Educational Concepts (Educational Consultants)
- Sylvan Learning Center (Educational Service)
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Sort Reviews By:University Of The Cumberlands • Williamsburg, KY
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2010)
• 7/12/2011
"This was a wonderful program. I would definitely recommend it to someone who wanted to work full-time but pursue a degree at night."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This was a wonderful program. I would definitely recommend it to someone who wanted to work full-time but pursue a degree at night. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | This school is well-respected throughout the state of Kentucky. Many educators seek the program. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I completed the coursework entirely online, so it was extremely convenient. I was also able to work at my own pace. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors were well-trained and easy to access. Even though I completed the work online I felt like the professors really cared. The program was also laid out so that I could complete the degree in only a year and a half. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The program was just challenging enough without being something that I thought was beyond my capabilities. There were some courses that could have been more rigorous, though. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Depending on the course, the work was either hands-on or book oriented. Of course, some subjects (like psychology) lend themselves to being book oriented while others, such as student teaching, require being hands-on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Doing the coursework online made everything super convenient. There were evening options and many chances to take a particular course. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | I wasn't on campus because I completed the program online. However, online accessibility was amazing. |
| Social Life | 5 | Again, with an online program the social experience was limited by my efforts and those of the other students in the program. I never felt like I didn't have peers to talk to, though. |
| Placement Services | 2 | This was my biggest problem. The school does very little to help its graduates find jobs. I could have greatly used more support. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The problem with the alumni network is that it is so small and it's hard to make connections. Also, the alumni network is always hounding me to make monetary donations, which I don't like. |
Western Kentucky University • Bowling Green, KY
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2009)
• 9/1/2011
"WKU couldn't have done a better job. I knew everything I needed to know before I graduated and got a job."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This is the best school to go to (in Kentucky) if you are pursuing elementary education. The program is outstanding. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | When employers discover where I went to school, I become a commodity. WKU is highly rated in our state for their education program. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Western did a great job of preparing me. There were many courses requiring me to work in the classroom before graduation. I knew exactly what I was getting into. |
| Instruction | 10 | The majority of the professors had worked in the profession before (and are obviously still teachers), so they could relate. They definitely prepared me in every way. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Most of the material I studied was fairy easy to comprehend. It was just the workload that was difficult for me. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We learned all of the tactics and techniques and theories, but also had the chance to employ them in a classroom environment. I had a lot of hands-on experience before graduation. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | We had to attend classes during the day and be able to meet for specific observation times. These were not flexible and depended on when the supervising teacher was available and willing to have us there. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There was a specific library in our building for our program. This is one of the biggest programs in our school, so there is a lot of support. |
| Social Life | 8 | School spirit is high and parties were always going on. However, it was hard to get into organized social events if you weren't into the Greek life. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The career assistance was good (job fairs, introducing us to local schools). There was no job placement, however. But we were prepared with all the tools we needed. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't know a lot about alumni support and didn't have a lot of contact with any alumni. I suppose this is average. |
Bellarmine University • Louisville, KY
Studying Education (completion in 2008)
• 9/13/2011
"My degree from Bellarmine put me in the upper salary tier in my school system. I've also had ongoing opportunities through the school and through my association with the faculty there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The program is pricey but in the long run, well worth it. If you're serious about being a better teacher, the school is very serious about helping you make that happen. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The impressive faculty and research projects set Bellarmine apart. I am really proud that I got my MAT there. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The faculty/instructors included some pretty heavy hitters. Most of them are very accomplished and known in their respective fields. |
| Instruction | 10 | Class size was very small, intimate. Schedule very flexible to accommodate those of us already working. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program was demanding, though not difficult. I had to do some juggling, but I think everyone did. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A good mix. We dealt in real-world situations as well as in theory. Great discussions. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The schedule took into account that most of the participants were teaching or employed full time. Evening classes and weekend meetings made it a lot easier to manage. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I used the library, online resources and academic advising. All were excellent. Classrooms were great. Parking was easy. |
| Social Life | 10 | I made great friends in the program. With few exceptions, the class was comprised of professional educators that I am honored to be associated with. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I did not use the placement services, but I've heard good things about it. Two of my classmates who did not want to teach in the classroom got assistance to find jobs elsewhere in the field. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I had an issue midway through one term and the school was very accommodating and worked with me to get everything cleared up ASAP. |
University Of Kentucky • Lexington, KY
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2009)
• 10/23/2011
"I am very satisfied with the education that I received. I made new friends and enjoyed my time there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely recommend it. They have to be certain they want to go into teaching however. Jobs are scarce in education these days. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | It's definitely not the focal point of this university. I would consider it average. |
| Program Quality | 7 | They had recently changed the program when I was in school. I enjoyed my time; some things still seemed experimental. |
| Instruction | 7 | Due to the changes to the program I had some great instructors and some that were still adjusting. |
| How Difficult | 6 | It was okay. I always put in a lot of work though. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I think the education department was more of a mix. I think that they were definitely trying to make it more hands-on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | It was pretty flexible. A good range of day/night classes to choose from. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | High quality libraries on campus. Instructors had a lot of time available for meetings, etc. |
| Social Life | 8 | Athletics and Greek events are a big part of UK. There is always something going on for someone to take part in. |
| Placement Services | 5 | There was/is a shortage of jobs. The university didn't prep you for that. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | UK has a strong alumni group. I frequently receive upcoming event details. |
University Of Louisville • Louisville, KY
Studying Music Performance - Choral Conducting (completion in 1999)
• 11/26/2011
"I received an excellent education and learned much. I use what I learned every day."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely recommend this program. It is rigorous and demanding, but it was definitely worth it. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Louisville is emerging as a leader in the choral music field. The director of the programs is recognized internationally. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The University of Louisville provided me with a first-class graduate program. Every day I use things I learned in that program. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors I had were leaders in the field and very demanding. However, they were also human and built relationships with their students. |
| How Difficult | 8 | This program required a lot of intensive study and practice. It was demanding but I learned a lot. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I felt like the program provided an appropriate mix. Book learning was tempered with real-life experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Most required courses were only offered once a semester at one time. There was little flexibility. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The school had an extensive music library. Also, the School of Education was next door to the Music School. They also provided and excellent library for researching education questions. |
| Social Life | 5 | I think the school probably offered the usual collegiate social life. However, as a grad student, I did not participate in social activities. I was very focused on my education. |
| Placement Services | I really am not sure about this. I did not utilize the job placement services offered. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I get the usual requests for donations. Also, a few times a year, I might get an invitation to an event on the campus. |
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