Valerie Capel’s classes on elementary education and classroom management draw on her more than two decades of experience. After 25 years of service to public education, in 2021 Val retired from a West Michigan school district where she had split her career between 5th and 3rd grade and mentored dozens of teacher candidates and student teachers in her elementary classrooms. “Retirement” enabled Val to expand her role at Hope College as a visiting assistant professor.  

Val teaches courses that bookend the Department of Education’s elementary teacher preparation program: Introduction to Elementary Education, and as students approach their practicums and graduation, Classroom Management. She also serves as a college supervisor for student teachers, co-leads professional development for teachers who mentor Hope College teacher candidates and serves as a first-year teacher mentor of several of her student teachers.  Investing in the future of education by walking alongside students preparing for careers as educators, and alongside teachers in the early years of their careers, is one of Val’s greatest joys.

 She began teaching at Hope in 2020 and has been supervising student teachers and mentoring first-year teachers since 2022. 

Areas of Expertise

Val’s passion is preparing elementary teacher candidates for success in today’s classroom. In the Introduction to Elementary Education course, she introduces teacher candidates to foundational concepts, terms, and effective teaching practices. The Classroom Management course provides an in-depth study of effective classroom and behavior management techniques through a trauma-informed lens for elementary teachers in general education settings.  Val utilizes her teaching experiences and skills as a highly trained mentor to collaborate with and support the efficacy of practicing educators. 

Education

• M.Ed., secondary education, Grand Valley State University, 2000
• B.A., English language arts, Grand Valley State University, 1996

Outside the College

When she’s not supporting teachers and teacher candidates, Val and her husband Mike enjoy lake life on an inland lake south of Holland.  Mike has served southwest Michigan as a firefighter/paramedic for over three decades.  Their two adult sons have followed in their dad’s footsteps and chosen to serve the community through careers in Fire and EMS.  Val and her family are active members of Central Wesleyan Church in Holland.