School of Education Launches LIGHT Cooperative; Endeavors to Shape Future of Education

School of Education Expo attendees interact with a booth during the stations portion of the event. 

Webster University’s School of Education revealed the formation of a new cooperative Thursday evening, during an EXPO event held in the Winifred Moore Auditorium. The LIGHT cooperative, a cross-departmental effort within the School of Education, will directly impact the preparation of education students, support and shape practices in preschool through grade 12 classrooms locally, and contribute to future dialogue within the field of education. 

Stephanie Mahfood, interim dean of the School of Education, explained that there is an evident need for change, which is what led to the creation of the cooperative. 

“We are at a critical and pivotal moment in the education of our children. Educators are leaving the profession at an alarming rate. We must evolve and improve, equipping teachers with the skills they need and encouraging them to remain in the classroom. The LIGHT cooperative is our mechanism for change. It will guide and synthesize the work that we do outside of our typical programs and help us to prioritize initiatives we want to build in the future.” 

School of Education Interim Dean Stephanie Mahfood speaks during the plenary portion of the Expo. 

The naming of the LIGHT Cooperative is purposeful, connected to the "lamp of knowledge" image that symbolizes the light of wisdom and knowledge gleaned through education. It also serves as an acronym to represent its core beliefs; learning, innovation, global, holistic, and transformative.

The cooperative will focus on six key components; digital pedagogy, family and student support, research to practice, global student network, annual global education in transformative learning, and the School of Education’s community hub. The cooperative will outline and work toward practical goals within each of these areas to create experiential learning opportunities for Webster School of Education students, connect local K-12 schools with necessary resources, and shape practice within the overall profession of teaching.  

“The School of Education’s mission is to shape the future of education by preparing teachers and other leaders in education for the challenges of today and tomorrow,” Mahfood said. “The LIGHT Cooperative puts this mission into practice by not only providing additional opportunities for our students but gives us the ability to impact communities outside of Webster University. We hope the LIGHT Cooperative serves as a catalyst for change not only in our area, but within the profession of education.” 

Event attendees interact with live student avatars via Mursion, a virtual training software for future educators. Mursion is one of the components of the LIGHT Cooperative's Digital Pedagogy focus. 

Learn more about the LIGHT cooperative here, or consider supporting the School of Education’s mission in ensuring access to world class pedagogical training and resources needed for groundbreaking research. 

Representatives from the organizations who sponsored the School of Education Expo event: Catherine White Guimarães, Director of Education at Mursion, Stacey Elster, Chief Program Officer at Lafayette Industries, and Kaylee Reagan, Kaylee Reagan Photography.