Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School’s Education Department offers students five varied and impactful degrees, ranging from Early Childhood and Middle Level Education to Health & Physical Education. Within the Early Childhood Education major, students can choose from two 4+1 programs, meaning they can earn both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education in just five years.
One of those 4+1 opportunities is in Special Education. Students can earn their undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education (PreK-4th grade) while studying on LBC’s Lancaster, Pa., campus. The MEd in Special Education (K-12) is fully online, and those courses begin to be incorporated in the student’s course load while they are still working toward their bachelor’s degree.
Future special education teacher Leah Miller (’23)
Leah Miller (’23), who will graduate in just a few weeks, is a student in LBC | Capital’s Special Education program. She shared that her experience in the program has been amazing. “The classes at LBC challenge you and to help you build a biblical foundation on difficult topics to better prepare you after you graduate,” she said. “LBC offers countless opportunities to get into the classroom to get a taste of what teaching is really like. Professors are very honest, transparent and open about teaching and are more than happy to share great, good, bad and ugly things about teaching.”
LBC | Capital’s Special Education program prepares future teachers to engage with students with a variety of struggles and special needs, such as students with Down Syndrome, ADHD, behavioral and emotional disorders, learning disabilities and more. Through a combination of Bible classes, field placements in diverse educational settings (including Christian schools, public schools, daycare, preschools and Montessori academies), coursework and student teaching that focuses on understanding the needs of the child and implementing developmentally appropriate places, LBC’s educational experience is like no other.
The Early Childhood/Special Education program also prepares students for a variety of career placements, such as special education teachers, elementary school teachers, learning support teachers, preschool teachers and teacher’s aides.
“It is a hard program that pushes you in academic excellence,” expressed Kenedi Berkhimer (’23), a May graduate of this 4+1 program. “Our Early Childhood Education/Special Ed program has a positive reputation in the local schools for preparing interns and student teachers well,” she said. “The coursework is relevant and will be useful in your future classroom.”
So what sets LBC | Capital’s program apart? As with every program at the college, it’s rooted in Scripture.
Kenedi Berkhimer (’23) is a graduate of LBC’s 4+1 Special Education program.
“Our department mission is to prepare and disciple teachers to be reflective, relational and relevant practitioners who think biblically in order to impact the educational community,” explained Dr. Robin Bronkema, Assistant Professor and Director of Graduate Programs in Education. “As such, students in our program are being equipped to think and act biblically in the educational settings in which they serve.”
That was an important aspect for Leah as she worked toward her degree. “One thing that stands out to me is the professors and their desire to build a relationship with you and point you to Jesus,” she said. “They all love teaching, but they love God more, and that is evident in their work and interactions with the students.”
Reiterated Dr. Bronkema, “The aim is for graduates to teach in a way that flows from biblical thinking. This is huge because it means they see each student they work with as a precious individual made in the image of God. God’s love for image-bearers injects hope into any and every situation; therefore, LBC | Capital graduates get to be God’s instruments of love and hope in this world!”
Another differentiator of LBC | Capital’s education programs is the significant amount of student field experience, which begins as early as their freshman year.
Kenedi knew she wanted to student-teach in the mission field or overseas, and after talking with her advisor at the time, was encouraged to keep pushing until she hit a wall—that is, until God closed the door. Her prayer was answered in the spring of 2023, when she had the opportunity to student-teach in the elementary special education classroom at a private Christian school in New Mexico, right outside a Navajo reservation.
“These professors truly want you to succeed in both the program and in your walk with the Lord,” Kenedi said. “They will do their best to give you the resources to do just that.”
Kenedi recently spent two months in Barbuda providing special education support at a school that didn’t have any. In January 2024, she’ll begin a permanent position at the school where she completed her student teaching. The path to a full-time teaching position is also top of mind at LBC; in addition to their two education degrees—an undergraduate and a graduate degree—4+1 education students at LBC | Capital also receive a Pennsylvania Instructional I certification (PK-4), Special Education (PK-12) and an Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Standard certification (K-8).
Both Leah and Kenedi touted the level of dedication they witnessed from professors in the program and the impact it had on their respective journeys.
“Every single professor I have had has always been so passionate about teaching and has always loved to support me in and out of the classroom,” Leah said. “The professors are truly there to help you be successful. They are great and are always there to make you feel confident, supported and valued.”
Kenedi agreed, recalling that her professors were a highlight of the education program during her time at LBC. In the master’s program, she learned from both adjunct and full-time professors. “Both were amazing at what they did,” she explained. “I especially appreciated the adjunct professors who were experienced teachers currently working in the classroom. They were relatable and gave relevant examples of what we were learning! At LBC, each one of our professors truly cared about their students. Whether it was praying for each one of us before class or bringing a small treat, they always went above and beyond.”
Bronkema emphasized that students in the program can expect a very “relational” education. “That word is in our department mission statement because we firmly believe in life-on-life discipleship,” she said. “As professors, we know our students by name, we eat lunch with them each week, and we pray for them.”