Program Details
City University of Seattle offers a state-approved Endorsement in Reading for teachers who want to add to their Washington State teaching certificate. The program includes instruction and an internship teaching literacy and reading skills to children in preschool through grade 12.
The 28-credit curriculum covers topics including:
- fostering language acquisition
- integrating literacy into content areas
- technology in literacy
- diagnosis, intervention and feedback
- engaging parents in the learning process
This endorsement can also be added to our Bachelor of Art in Education for students working toward their first residency certificate.
- Internship: Candidates typically complete the internship portion in their current workplace. CityU faculty members who are experienced reading specialists will offer guidance and oversee your practicum.
- Career advancement: Additional endorsements can translate into more options and opportunities for advancement. The reading endorsement will prepare you to offer instruction in the area of literacy, which will affect all other content areas throughout a child’s education.
When you finish the endorsement, you will be ready to pass the Washington Educator Skills Test (WEST-E ®) and will be considered highly qualified to teach reading in a classroom setting or become a reading specialist.
Get in touch with a CityU advisor to see where CityU can take you.
Dr. Craig Schieber
Q&A with Dr. Craig Schieber
Q: What is your terminal degree in and where did you get it from?
A: Doctor of Education from Seattle Pacific University. I majored in Instructional Leadership with an emphasis in Information Technologies.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: Direct theater productions, run, read, garden.
Q: Do you teach any classes?
A: Right now I’m just doing field supervision, however in the past, I’ve taught technology, curriculum, and assessment classes.
Q: Why did you decide to go into education?
A: I am fascinated by the growth process and the exchange of ideas. Joy comes in seeing and helping people realize their potential and beyond.
Q: Why do you enjoy serving students at CityU?
A: Because most of our students are non-traditional university students I am always honored to help them realize their dreams. These are courageous and strong people, most of whom are in the adult flow of life with responsibilities such as having a family, paying a mortgage, working a job, etc.
Q: What is one thing that you tell students?
A: They will get a relevant, practical education from dedicated practitioners.
Q: Any fond CityU memories that you can share?
A: My fondest memories come from the times I have supervised and observed our students interning and student teaching in classrooms. Watching them learn our teacher’s art of reaching out and helping and nurturing kids’ natural curiosity is the best kind of memory.
Q: What might you tell a student who was thinking of attending CityU?
A: They will get a relevant, practical education from dedicated practitioners. They should be prepared and open to grow. They will come out of our program a different person. In the program, we will work with them as they prepare to join a proud profession, which once they join, they wear 24 hours a day. It is a calling and a full life commitment.
Q: What is something you’ve learned from end-of-course evaluations that you applied later on?
A: This is one that has been confirmed by course evaluations. The most common cause of student dissatisfaction in classes is lack of feedback from instructors on student work. That is our major focus to find ways to get student expectations and instructor performance closer together on this all-important instructional experience.
Maria Gross
Q&A with Maria Gross, Academic Program Director
Q: What did you study, and where did you graduate from?
A: Ed.D. Educational Leadership, Higher Education, University of Washington
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: Travel, cook, read
Q: Why do you enjoy working at CityU?
A: I enjoy CityU because of its practitioner-based model through which application of concepts is foundational to education.
Q: What’s one thing you always tell your students that may or may not relate to your class?
A: I love teaching and expect and welcome them to challenge me and our education system.
