Mission

The mission of the Inclusive Education Department is to prepare professional educators who have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to educate and honor all learners by partnering with and advocating for families and communities, with an emphasis on academically, linguistically, and culturally diverse learners who have been historically marginalized within educational contexts.

Vision

In our pursuit to improve the lives and opportunities of individuals with exceptionalities and those from historically marginalized groups, Kennesaw State University's Inclusive Education Department forges ahead as a national leader, building the capacity of all schools to promote the educational success of every learner. The Inclusive Education Department is committed to the collaborative development of expertise in teaching, learning, and leadership through student-centered learning that is integrative and intentional. In cooperation with families, school systems, and community agencies, the department prepares teachers and school leaders to exhibit the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to facilitate high levels of learning through inclusive practices. Through an integrated research-based approach, programs are systematically created and implemented to transform teacher candidates’ worldviews, thus empowering them to become teacher leaders who are life-long advocates for learners, families, and communities nationally and internationally.

Core Values

• Diversity: We value the representation of humanity’s unique identities, and all that shapes and informs the essence of every individual. We, therefore, commit to developing teachers who can effectively teach children who are diverse linguistically, culturally, and in abilities, emphasizing inclusive practices.
• Inclusion: We deliberately seek and involve people from a range of backgrounds, establishing local and global connections so that voices from various cultures, socioeconomic statuses, languages, abilities, gender, and sexual orientations are affirmed and embedded in our work. We, likewise, are committed to preparing teachers who use asset-based frameworks to similarly engage families and communities. Finally, we seek the development and adoption of inclusive practices at all levels, locally and globally.
• Social Justice: In our pursuit of fairness and equitable outcomes for every member of society, we are dedicated to uplifting everyone so that no one is left out.
• Advocacy: We fight for those who are marginalized so that they have equal access to life opportunities. Likewise, we prepare teachers with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to affirm and fight for children and families.
• Collaboration: We are dedicated to reaching across differences to interact in ways that allow us to achieve shared goals.
• Respect: In all we do, in all our interactions, we demonstrate our reverence for humankind.