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LEXICON Center for Teacher Excellence
What is the Lexicon Center of Excellence?
The Lexicon Center of Excellence (LCE) is a comprehensive program that supports future teachers through financial support, mentorship, continuing professional development and employment opportunities. This program is funded by the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence program which encourages institutions to reduce barriers to becoming teachers. The LCE reduces these barriers through tuition vouchers and additional wraparound services so Lexicon Scholars may have lasting and rewarding careers as educators. The program strives to diversify the teacher pipeline with a focus on special education, literacy and bilingual/ESL preparation.
Lexicon Scholars may receive one or more of the following benefits:
- Financial support: students receive tuition and certification exam vouchers, paid work opportunities and graduate assistantships
- Targeted recruitment: proactively recruit candidates for critical need areas such as Title I, special education, reading/literacy specialists and bilingual education
- Academic and professional career support: onboarding, advising, mentoring, mental health services, certification preparation, professional development, career services and three years of post-program support through free CTLE
- Programmatic flexibility: online, evening, summer, and immersive options to reduce time to degree completion
- Partnerships: clinical placements, summer literacy clinic and service commitments centered in high-need settings
Who can qualify?
Iona University students enrolled in the following graduate education programs may become Lexicon Scholars:
- MSED Special Education
- MSED Special Education and Literacy
- MSED Literacy
- Bilingual Extension Certificate for Teachers
- MST Childhood/Special Education
How do I apply to become a Lexicon Scholar?
Students must be accepted into one of the above-mentioned graduate programs and meet the following admission requirements:
- Completed Lexicon Scholar application form
- Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
For any of the three MSED degrees, candidates must have completed an undergraduate education program that led to initial certification.
What are the Lexicon Center participation requirements?
- Complete clinical experiences in high-need schools partnered with Iona University’s Lexicon program
- Participate in mentoring programs and professional development workshops and CTLE
- Participate in certification exam workshops and create personalized exam plan under the mentorship of Iona University faculty
Undergraduate Pathways into the LCE
Undergraduate education majors may join the LCE through 4+1 accelerated pathways. These students complete both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 5 years by taking graduate courses in their junior and senior years. For more information, please contact the Senior Director of LCE.
Who is the contact person for the program?
Autumn Cancredi, Senior Director, Lexicon Center of Excellence
Email: acancredi@iona.edu
Phone: (914) 633-2210