Briar Cliff University Unveils Renovated Education Department Classrooms to Prepare Future Educators for 21st Century Teaching

Briar Cliff University celebrated the reopening of its newly renovated education classrooms on November 18, made possible through a generous $28,501 grant from Missouri River Historical Development and a matched gift from the estate of Genevieve Nachtman, a Briar Cliff alumna. The MRHD Agile Classroom Grant Education Space (Heelan Hall 119) and the Genevieve M. Nachtman Classroom (Heelan Hall 106) are designed to enhance teaching and technology skills, ensuring BCU’s Education students are equipped to meet the demands of modern classrooms.  

The innovative “agile classrooms” provide a flexible environment tailored to the diverse needs of future teachers. It features modular furniture and high-tech resources that allow for seamless transitions between small and large group collaborations, lectures, and presentations, closely mirroring the 21st-century classrooms in local middle and high schools. The renovations also included updated hardscapes and other technology, with all elements sourced from local vendors. 

“Our redesigned classrooms represents Briar Cliff’s commitment to educational excellence,” said Theresa Engle, BCU Education Department Chair. “With this investment in teaching spaces, we are preparing our students to be practice-ready, adaptable, and effective educators from day one.” 

BCU’s education program, fully approved by the Iowa Department of Education, trains students to teach grades K-12, providing them with over 120 hours of secondary classroom observation and over 200 hours of elementary classroom observation, supervised teaching, and practicum experience. This hands-on experience gained through local school partnerships builds student confidence and prepares them to thrive as engaging educators in today’s classrooms. 

Briar Cliff’s program offers various endorsements, including a unique Catholic School Certification, developed in partnership with Iowa’s four Catholic dioceses. Additional endorsements in subjects like Special Education, Spanish, English, Math, History, and Physical Education prepare graduates to meet the needs of diverse student populations. BCU students also benefit from early field experience through the Teacher Preparation Program, which begins during their first semester at Briar Cliff. 

The Education majors culminate in a student teaching internship within a 30-mile radius of the University, where students gain practical experience in Siouxland’s public and private schools. Currently, the program boasts a 100 percent job placement rate for its graduates, a testament to the program’s strong reputation and the University’s solid partnerships with area schools.