B-State Teacher Education Earns National Recognition
Bluefield State University’s exceptional teacher education program has earned national and state recognition, underscoring the university’s commitment to preparing highly qualified educators. The university’s Elementary Education K-6 degree program and the 5-9 Mathematics, 5-9 Science, 5-9 Social Studies, and K-6 Special Education endorsements have received state recognition from the West Virginia Content Area Program Approval (WV CAPA), and the 5-9 English Language Arts endorsement has received national recognition from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). This distinction places Bluefield State University among a select group of nationwide institutions being recognized for their dedication to high-quality teacher preparation.
Achieving recognition for all programs and endorsements is essential for our upcoming Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation process.
Dr. Terene Stiltner
These recognitions represent a critical step towards the university’s broader accreditation goals. “Achieving recognition for all programs and endorsements is essential for our upcoming Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation process,” explained Dr. Terene Stiltner, a professor of special education and a key figure in the program’s continual improvement. This achievement demonstrates the program’s alignment with CAEP’s rigorous standards. B-State was granted full CAEP accreditation in Fall 2019, and the next site visit will be in Spring 2026.
According to Dr. Stiltner, the development of the program approval reports was a collaborative effort. Dr. Shelia Sargent-Martin and Dr. Brittany Anderson played instrumental roles in shaping the program and ensuring it met the high standards set by CAEP. Their expertise and dedication were essential in achieving this national recognition.
This accomplishment reflects Bluefield State University’s ongoing dedication to providing its students with a high-quality education that prepares them for successful careers. Obtaining full recognition of the programs is a testament to the university’s commitment to excellence in teacher education.
CAEP is the sole nationally recognized accrediting body for educator preparation. Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. CAEP was created by consolidating the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. It is a unified accreditation system with the intent of raising the performance of all providers focused on educator preparation. Approximately 800 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP Accreditation system, including some previously accredited through former standards.
