School of Education

Honors, festivities, and a welcome to new teaching candidates make for full weekend at IU School of Education

Monday, October 3, 2011

The Indiana University School of Education enjoyed a full weekend of welcoming future teachers, honoring generous School of Education supporters, and holding a tailgate party for boosters of all sorts on Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2. The School held the annual “Call to Teach” ceremony at the IU Bloomington Wright Education building Saturday morning. Then the School of Education held its own tailgate party in the Hoosier Village outside Memorial Stadium before the IU-Penn State game. On Sunday, the School honored scholarship and fellowship recipients as well as the donors whose gifts are helping our students during the annual “Honors Day” ceremony.

The Call to Teach recognized 90 Indiana University students who have achieved the milestone of earning acceptance into the School of Education’s Teacher Education program. Students got inspiration from elementary education student Hannah Deremo, a senior, who gave her advice on how students can get the most out of their experience at the School. Associate Professor of Instructional System Technology Krista Glazewski related her first teaching experience to the students and how especially rewarding the profession can be. She spoke of a very troubled student in her very first class when she was a public school teacher; Glazewski learned recently that this student is now himself a teacher. The reigning Indiana Teacher of the Year, Stacy McCormack—also an Armstrong Teacher Educator as well as IU School of Education alumna (BS’99 in science education)—gave her thoughts, particularly focusing on engaging students in her classroom.

This year’s Call to Teach was particularly noteworthy for its induction of special group of teachers. The ceremony presented the inaugural cohort of Jacobs Teacher Educators—three Indiana teachers plus one from New York state and another from Auburn, AL—who use technology to support innovative, inquiry-based teaching and learning activities in their classrooms. Each teacher selected will receive a $1,500 stipend at the end of the one-year appointment and $1,000 toward purchasing technology resources to support his or her teaching, as well as funds to support travel to Indiana University for professional development events throughout the year.

Also on Saturday morning, School of Education faculty, staff, alumni, and friends gathered before kickoff of the IU football game for the School of Education tailgate party. Saturday’s game was designated as Teacher and Educator Day at Memorial Stadium. Visitors signed a banner noting accomplishments of the IU School of Education Alumni (click here to see it) and picked up temporary “IU” and “I Teach” tattoos as well as special stickers. School of Education staff gave out more than 300 Teacher and Educator Day stickers.

Sunday afternoon, the School honored 207 recipients of scholarships and fellowships and the supporters who made the scholarships and fellowships possible during Honors Day at the Indiana Memorial Union’s Whittenberger Auditorium. Students and their family and friends joined many School of Education supporters for a recognition ceremony and reception. In many cases, the event allowed students to meet with supporters directly to learn about the reasons for the gift and express their gratitude for the assistance. In all, the benefactors have provided more than $1.2 million in scholarship and fellowship support to undergraduate and graduate students.