University of St. Thomas School of Education

09/03/2026

Minnesota is investing $41 million in teacher pipeline grants designed to remove barriers and create more pathways into the teaching profession. The School of Education has been investing in programs to create these pathways for more than a decade.

We’re especially proud to see Dr. Talisha Jackson featured in a KSTP-TV story. Jackson, now an assistant principal at Como Senior High School, is a graduate of the St. Paul Urban Teacher Residency program, a partnership between Saint Paul Public Schools SPPS and the University of St. Thomas School of Education.

Jackson shares how the residency pathway opened doors for her to continue advancing in the education field and why creating accessible pathways into the profession matters for Minnesota’s students and schools.

Read the full story from KSTP-TV:

Minnesota is spending $41 million on teacher pipeline grants as school districts use the money to help more people become teachers.

09/02/2026

As artificial intelligence continues to impact education, Dr. Chientzu Candace Chou in the School of Education believes we should start with what matters most: people.

For decades, Chou has helped educators and students navigate technological change. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: focus first on people and use technology as a tool.

Her work exploring AI and virtual reality shows how emerging technologies can foster empathy, deepen understanding and strengthen human relationships.

Read more about how Dr. Chou’s approach to technology and education will help shape the future of learning:

When people talk about artificial intelligence (AI), they often have the same concerns: Will technology replace human interaction? Will students stop thinking for themselves? What happens when machines become smarter than we are? Those questions are familiar to Dr. Chientzu Candace Chou. As a learni...

09/01/2026

📣 A new pathway to becoming a Catholic school teacher is here!

The University of St. Thomas and Drexel Catholic Schools are excited to launch the Drexel Catholic Teacher Academy—an innovative program designed to grow the next generation of Catholic school teachers from within our own communities.

If you’re a paraprofessional, Catholic school employee, parish or community member, or an adult with some college credit who feels called to teach, this could be your path forward.

Through the Academy, participants can:
-Earn while you learn through a paid, mentored two-year classroom residency
-Pursue a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Thomas and acquire a Minnesota K–6 teaching license
-Receive significant financial support, with approximately 90% of tuition and fees covered
-Learn alongside experienced educators with personalized advising, coaching and mentorship
-Build a direct pathway to a teaching career in a Drexel Catholic school

💻 Join an upcoming online info session:
Sept. 15 | 4 p.m.
Sept. 24 | 5 p.m.
Oct. 5 | 4 p.m.
Oct. 26 | 4 p.m.

Learn more, register for an Online Info Session or complete the Interest Survey: https://education.stthomas.edu/community-partnerships/drexel-catholic-teacher-academy/index.html

You can also choose to use TommieBot, an AI search assistant developed by St. Thomas College of Engineering students and faculty.

08/28/2026

Bring engineering to life in your K-12 classroom—and earn a graduate certificate with full financial support.

The Toro™ Company Foundation is sponsoring five K-12 educators to complete a graduate certificate in Engineering Education at the University of St. Thomas. Build your skills, bring new ideas to your students and start the program at a time that works for you.

Five grants are available, so don't delay!

Learn more and apply: https://engineering.stthomas.edu/graduate-studies/certificates/engineering-for-educators/index.html

08/19/2026

Dr. Candace Chou recently presented research at the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education Technology (AIET 2026) in Zagreb, Croatia. The paper, “Campus-wide AI adoption in higher education: Implications from faculty, students, and staff surveys,” grew out of a collaboration with doctoral candidates Stephnie Fernando, Annie Dockendorf and Karen Harthorn, and Dr. Jonathan Keiser, Associate Vice President, Academic Technology, AI Enablement and Innovation and Chief Academic Technology Officer. The paper will be published in the conference proceedings by Springer.

Chou also joined Dr. Seth Ketron, associate professor of marketing in the Opus College of Business, for a virtual presentation at the EDUCAUSE Online Symposium on Immersive and Experiential Learning in Online Environments. Their presentation, “Institutional Support of Immersive Learning for Faculty Teaching and Research,” explored how institutions can support faculty in using immersive learning for teaching and scholarship.

Congratulations to Dr. Chou and her collaborators for advancing important conversations around AI, technology and innovation in higher education!

08/17/2026

On Aug. 13, graduates of our residency programs gathered on campus for the 2026 Action Research Showcase and Pinning Ceremony. Students exhibited their capstone research posters and were celebrated by 100+ family, friends, faculty, and cooperating teachers in attendance. Congratulations to these new educators! We can't wait to see your impact in the classroom, schools, and communities! Saint Paul Public Schools SPPS Minneapolis Public Schools

08/14/2026

Ea Porter, Assistant Director of Community Engagement and Recruiting for the School of Education, joined St. Thomas colleagues at the Rondo Block Party for a day of connection and community.

We’re proud to partner with Rondo neighborhood schools, including Maxfield Elementary and St. Peter Claver, and appreciated the opportunity to connect with students, families, educators, and community members.

Visitors stopped by to learn more about St. Thomas programs in Teacher Education, Special Education, and Educational Leadership—and to pick up some fun swag along the way!

08/13/2026

What happens when homeless encampments are cleared? School of Education Associate Professor Chelda Smith Kondo, PhD, shares why lasting solutions must prioritize stable housing and protect access to health care and support services. Read more:

Chelda Smith Kondo discusses the public health impacts of clearing homeless encampments in St. Paul on KARE 11.

08/12/2026

The School of Education is launching Spring and Summer 2027 cohorts for Work and Learn! Are you a Tier 1/2 teacher or paraprofessional who is dedicated to education and seeking a pathway to licensed teaching within your school district? Join us for a Work and Learn Online Information Session on August 18 that will lay out a plan for earning your teaching license in special education online while working for your district. Learn more and register today: https://link.stthomas.edu/Ot6Zj

08/07/2026

For nearly a decade, the School of Education has helped prepare the next generation of teachers through an innovative teacher residency model that allows aspiring educators to learn while they earn.

Now, that nationally recognized approach is expanding to undergraduate students, creating even more pathways into the teaching profession and helping address Minnesota's teacher workforce needs.

Learn how the St. Thomas School of Education and our school district partners are building the future of education. Saint Paul Public Schools SPPS Minneapolis Public Schools

The St. Paul Urban Teacher Residency program, developed by the University of St. Thomas School of Education, has expanded after a decade of success.