Evidence of MORE: LSU Grades 1-5 General and Special Education Dual Degree Certification Program

BATON ROUGE, LA — With LSU’s School Professionals Networking Day on April 11 just a few days away, the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education is highlighting the innovative efforts of Dual Certification (DUALC) faculty to serve both our students and area school systems.

We like to tell prospective and current students that we offer MORE in the Bachelor of Science in General/Special Education Grades 1-5 dual degree program by offering:

• More certifications: Graduates earn dual certifications in both general and special education—more than traditional teacher preparation programs.
• More mentorship: Teacher candidates benefit from a collaborative mentorship model involving both general and special education professionals throughout their preparation.
• More financial support: Local school district, West Baton Rouge Parish Schools, has invested in student success through initiatives such as free textbook access, $15/hour compensation for field experiences, and $5,000 residency stipends.

The program also emphasizes career readiness and networking. DUALC students are connected with partner districts through tailored recruitment events. In December 2024, West Baton Rouge (WBR) Parish School System hosted LSU’s senior DUALC residents for a recruitment day to promote what they have to offer in terms of professional salary, benefits, and support including presentations from Human Resources Director Barbara Burke and Superintendent Chandler Smith. As of April 2025, five DUALC residents have accepted positions with the WBR Parish School System. They join seven DUALC graduates hired in 2024.

In April 2025, the Ascension Parish School Board (APSB) hosted interested DUALC students to a full-day experience. In the morning, DUALC students toured seven elementary schools. Following lunch, residents were interviewed by 12 administrators from 10 schools in a “round- robin” format that allowed students to both refine their interview skills and explore potential employment opportunities.

Senior DUALC resident Caelan Savoy, who completed her residency in the parish school system, said the experience was very helpful to her as she charts her professional future.

“Being able to talk to the principals and just ask them questions in a more casual setting was extremely helpful for me,” Savoy said. “I was able to prepare the questions that I wanted to know ahead of time. I also got to speak to a wide variety of people, so I felt like I could make the most informed decision about my future.”

For Gonzales Primary School principal Yvette Langlois, the experience was also beneficial.

“It is a huge plus meeting future teachers who have had student teaching experience in Ascension Parish because they have seen firsthand the expectations of APSB as well as the level of support they will receive via our new teacher induction program where they’re provided a mentor as a first-year teacher,” Langlois said. “It also gives us an opportunity to highlight our school vision and mission to each candidate.”

The DUALC program will graduate its largest cohort in spring 2025. All graduates from the class of 2024 accepted teaching positions in Louisiana, with 75% also pursuing graduate studies at LSU.

As LSU continues to provide highly trained educators who are classroom-ready on day 1, the DUALC program stands as a model for preparing future teachers to serve diverse learners with excellence.

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About the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education
A school of the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education, the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education (SOE) offers undergraduate programs for students who want to pursue a career as a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teacher or acquire dual certification in both traditional elementary and special education classrooms. In addition, SOE offers 3 graduate certificates, 17 master’s degree program areas, 9 EdS certificate programs, and 2 PhD degrees in 11 areas of focus. SOE’s focus is not only on preparing highly qualified teachers but also in preparing educational leaders, curriculum studies scholars, educational technology experts, applied researchers, higher education professionals, school counselors, and clinical mental health counselors. SOE specializes scholarly expertise regarding pressing educational and wellness issues across the entire lifespan.

Visit the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education.

 

About the College of Human Sciences & Education 
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan.

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