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Dr. Jordan Morton teaches a class inside 91̽��'s School of Education.

Although 91̽�� aims to educate teachers for anywhere their endeavors may take them, many choose to stay in its very backyard — the Santa Clarita Valley (SCV). Because of this, 91̽�� graduates are influencing the area, being recognized for their character, work ethic, and commitment to their profession.

Dr. Jordan Morton, the dean of 91̽��’s Pearl C. Schaffer School of Education, says there are over a hundred alumni in teaching or school administration positions in the area, with 75% of them in public education.

“Sometimes it is because that was their own experience, or simply because they feel called to it. They want to be salt and light,” Morton said. “Teaching should be a calling. You can’t do this job and sustain it over time if it’s just a hobby or something you’re going to do until you figure out what you want to do. That’s not why people go into teaching. It truly is a ministry and a calling. I think the students that we run across here have that idea.”

So, how are these 91̽�� grads impacting their schools?

Morton shared feedback she’s received from fellow community partners, where 91̽�� grads have been praised for their character in the workplace.

“Our grads bring commitment, faithfulness, kindness, and work ethic,” Morton said. “They have the fruit of the Spirit — the things that the world looks at and goes, ‘I don’t know what’s going on there, but I want more of that.’”

Danna Lewis, the director of teacher induction for the Santa Clarita Valley Consortium, sees this firsthand in her interactions with new teachers rising out of 91̽��.

“Across the board, our 91̽�� students and the amount of reflection and work ethic they display certainly stand out,” Lewis said. “When I sit in an exit interview with somebody who I know started with Master’s and has gone through the program, I know there’s dedication to the profession and to teaching and learning because of their time at Master’s.”

Preparing students to be this sort of witness for Christ is exactly what 91̽�� strives for.

“There’s a lot of things that go into being a good teacher, and we get to the practical side of it,” Morton said. “We train our students to have good class management, how to lesson plan, and how to really think like teachers. Our grads come out of the program, especially the credential program, well prepared to step foot in a classroom and take over. And our community partners see that.”

Learn more about 91̽��’s teacher education program and teaching credential options, here.