Five education students from 草莓社区 were selected to attend the 2023 Teachers of Promise Institute, which was held March 24-25 in Midlothian, Va. The annual event brings together 100 top pre-service teachers from across the Commonwealth for professional development, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
Honorees demonstrate a strong potential to impact students in the classroom, high academic standing, and commitment to the teaching profession. EMU鈥檚 Teachers of Promise were chosen by EMU teacher education program faculty. 鈥淚 know these five future teachers will be a positive influence in the lives of their students,鈥� said Professor Barbara Wheatley, the students鈥� faculty advisor.
EMU鈥檚 2023 Teachers of Promise are:
- Morgan Evans, from Dayton, Va.; Biology, Secondary Education, 6-12
- Amanda Kibler, from Woodstock, Va.; Music Education; PreK-12
- Stephanie Palomino, from Goshen, In.; English as a Second Language (ESL), PreK-12
- Caitlin Weaver, from Rockingham, Va.; Elementary Education, PreK-6
- Carrie Yoder, from Harrisonburg, Va.; History & Social Science, Secondary Education, 6-12
鈥淭he institute was an exciting opportunity to bond with EMU education students as well as other Virginia college education students,鈥� said Yoder, who was also able to get advice from a mentor educator about her first year of teaching. Palomino was honored to be nominated for the institute and says she left feeling 鈥渋nspired and re-energized鈥� about her future career as an ESL educator.
EMU鈥檚 education program values experiential learning, offering early practicum experiences that help candidates determine their professional path. Teacher candidates choose from 15 different licensure programs, which are approved by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and accredited by the (CAEP).
The was established in 2004 to identify and recognize the best prospective teachers from college and university schools of education across Virginia. The Institute is funded by The Teachers of Promise Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Roanoke, Virginia, and is organized by a team of practicing educators. To date, the Institute has honored more than 3,650 Teachers of Promise from more than three dozen institutions of higher education.