EMU’s 2024 Teachers of Promise are:

• Maria Bettilyon, from Ashburn, Virginia; Mathematics, Secondary Education, 6-12
• Lucy Unzicker, from Benson, Illinois; Spanish, Secondary Education, 6-12
• Erin Keith, from Stuart, Virginia; Health & Physical Education, K-12
• Shania Coleman, from Stanardsville, Virginia; Elementary Education, PreK-6
• Lyndsay Harris, from Stuarts Draft, Virginia;�� Elementary Education, PreK-6
• Alex Gulisano, from Chesapeake, Virginia; Elementary Education, PreK-6

The honorees exemplify strong potential for impacting students in the classroom, high academic standing, commitment to the teaching profession, and embody EMU’s teacher education mission to “teach boldly in a changing world through an ethic of care and critical reflection,” said program director and professor of education Holly Rusher.��

“This is a delightful group of honorees,” Rusher added. “I am confident that these future teachers will positively influence the lives of each student in their classrooms as they create and advocate for just and equitable learning environments.”

Professor Barbara Wheatley is the students’ teacher education faculty advisor. 

EMU’s education program values experiential learning, offering early practicum experiences that help candidates determine their professional path. Teacher candidates choose from 15 different licensure programs. The teacher education program is National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accredited through the (CAEP).

Honorees demonstrate a strong potential to impact students in the classroom, high academic standing, and commitment to the teaching profession. EMU’s Teachers of Promise were chosen by EMU teacher education program faculty. “I know these five future teachers will be a positive influence in the lives of their students,” said Professor Barbara Wheatley, the students’ faculty advisor.

EMU’s 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

“The institute was an exciting opportunity to bond with EMU education students as well as other Virginia college education students,” 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 “inspired and re-energized” about her future career as an ESL educator.

EMU’s 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.

EMU students that participated included: Allison Bontrager, from Wellman, Ia.; Allison Eanes, from Harrisonburg, Va.; Laci Gautsche, from Archbold, Ohio; Owen Longacre, from Telford, Pa.; Rebecca Stoesz-Nagy, from Harrisonburg, Va.; and Amber Shelly, special from Bluffton, Ohio.

“I cannot imagine a more inspiring event to ignite the passion and spirit of our future teachers than the Teachers of Promise Institute,” said , assistant professor of teacher education at EMU.

The two-day workshop featured sessions on “Creating Cultural Connections” and “Engaging Learners in Active Lessons.”

“Being surrounded by the best educators in the state, as well as a few nationally recognized teachers, brought the kind of positive energy and elevation to the teaching profession that it deserves,” said Gautsche. “I am more excited than ever to begin my teaching career!”

Students that participated included: Laura Hershey, major from Waynesboro, Va.; Stacy Lehman, major from Stryker, Ohio; Sarah Leland, major from Chambersburg, Pa.; Camila Pandolfi, major from Harrisonburg, Va.; Rebecca Peachey, major from Petersburg, Pa.; and Julie Young, major from Fishersville, Va.

“It was a complete affirmation of my call to teaching,” said Peachey. “It was refreshing to spend the weekend with those who have the same passion you do and can model what it takes to be a great teacher.”

The two-day workshop featured sessions on “Creating Cultural Connections” and “Engaging Learners in Active Lessons.”

“The Teachers of Promise Institute is a meaningful event to celebrate tomorrow’s teachers,” said , chair of at EMU and faculty representative at the conference. “I am proud of EMU’s teachers of promise for the hope, competence and commitment to excellence they bring to the teaching profession and the lives of many children in the future.”

The students were among those recognized at the 8th annual Teachers of Promise (TOP) Institute held Mar. 25-26 at James Madison University. More than 200 education majors from the Commonwealth’s 37 teacher-accrediting institutions attended the gathering that celebrates and recognizes the state’s most outstanding pre-service teachers.

The students are: Sarah Beck, special education, Archbold, Ohio; Ebony Dennis, health and physical education, Aberdeen, Md.; Abby Erb, elementary education, Hesston, Kan.; Peyton Erb, elementary education and TESOL, Harrisonburg; John Hostetter, English education, Harrisonburg; Kristina Reinhardt, elementary education, Dalton, Ohio; Steven Rittenhouse, math education, Green Lane, Pa.; Hailee Rittle, special education, Jonestown, Pa.; Alyssa Roy, elementary education and special education, Charlottesville, Va.; and Maria Zehr, elementary education and music education, Orrville, Ohio.

The institute featured interactive workshops delivered by teachers with distinguished honors, including Virginia teachers of the year, Milken national award winners, nationally board certified teachers and national teachers of the year. Each student was paired with a mentor, who can provide support for years to come.

“Qualities that the education faculty used in selecting our ‘Teachers of Promise’ from across the program included showing outstanding potential as as educator, exhibiting a strong commitment to the profession and exemplifying the characteristics of a reflective, caring practitioner,” said Sandra L. (Sandy) Brownscombe, professor of education. “As a department we are humbled by the impact that these teachers will have on the lives of all of their future students.”

Four ��ݮ���� seniors preparing to become teachers have been recognized for exemplifying the necessary traits for an exemplary career in public education.

Named “Teachers of Promise” by the state of Virginia were:

• Katrina J. Martin, Peachtree City, Ga., an elementary education major with PreK-6th grade licensure. She is seeking a teaching position this fall with either Harrisonburg City or Rockingham County school systems.
• Rachel A. Sims, Perkasie, Pa., a mathematics major seeking licensure in grades 6-12 with TESL minor;
• Kendal L. Swartzendruber, Keezletown, Va., a special education major with certification in mental retardation and emotionally disturbed.
• Shannon D. Yoder, Harrisonburg, Va., a history and social science major seeking licensure in grades 6-12.

The students were honored during a two-day institute held mid-March at James Madison University in Harrisonburg.

‘Touching Children’s Lives’

“The ‘Teachers of Promise’ seminar was a meaningful event that encouraged me as I prepare to enter the profession,” said Martin. “The seminar also was a good reminder that the teaching career is about much more than simply teaching academics – it is about touching children’s lives.”

The Teachers of Promise Institute is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Milken Educator Network and the James Madison Center. This institute offers a quality professional development opportunity for pre-service teachers from all of the commonwealth’s 37 accrediting institutions.

Participants are selected by their university on a competitive basis and represent the commonwealth’s most promising and gifted pre-service educators.

In an effort to support its strongest teacher candidates, the state provides guidance for the new Teachers of Promise by providing them with mentors who are veteran teachers who have been recognized as “Teachers of the Year” in Virginia.

Teaching: ‘a true profession’

Lori H. Leaman, assistant professor of , attended the institute with the four students.

“The institute felt like an affirmation of EMU

Five ��ݮ���� seniors preparing to become teachers have been recognized by state education organizations for their achievements.

Named “Teachers of Promise” by the state of Virginia were:

• Julianne C. Burkholder, Linville, Va., early childhood education major with English as a Second Language (TESL) endorsement. She will teach preschool at Fulks Run (VA) Elementary School this fall.
• Jeremy P. Dayton, Harrisonburg, elementary education, PreK-6 major, will teach second grade at Stone Spring Elementary School, Harrisonburg.
• Andrea N. Gahman, Souderton, Pa., elementary education, K-6, with a TESL endorsement, will be employed as a second grade LEAP teacher at Keister Elementary School, Harrisonburg.
• Jennifer E. (Jen) Holsopple, Archbold, Ohio, history major, secondary history and social science major with an English endorsement, will be an eighth grade geography teacher at North Fork Middle School, Quicksburg, Va.
• Rachel A. Swartzendruber, Indianapolis, Ind., special education K-12, teaching 9-12 grade students in areas of learning disabilities and emotional disturbance at Broadway (VA) High School.

The students were honored during a two-day institute held late March at James Madison University in Harrisonburg.

Teachers Remain in State

The “Teachers of Promise” initiative, sponsored in part by the Virginia Department of Education and supported by the Virginia Milken Educator Network and the Governor’s Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant, is designed “to honor the best and brightest future educators” and “to encourage outstanding teacher candidates from Virginia’s teacher education programs to remain in the state.”

In an effort to support its strongest teacher candidates, the state provides guidance for the new Teachers of Promise by providing them with mentors who are veteran teachers who have been recognized as “Teachers of the Year” in Virginia.

Lori H. Leaman, instructor of , attended the institute with the five students. “The institute felt like an affirmation of EMU

Three ��ݮ���� students preparing to become teachers have been recognized by state education organizations for their achievements.

Jesse M. Rodriguez, a K-12 special education major from Grottoes, Va.; James H. Bergey, a senior secondary education and history/social studies major from Chesapeake, Va.: and Theodore M. (Ted) Erickson, a senior PreK-12 health and physical education major from Harrisonburg were recognized as "Teachers of Promise" by the state of Virginia.

The three men were honored at a two-day event held at James Madison University and the Spotswood Country Club in late March. ( was also one of only two Virginia students to receive an award and scholarship from the Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (VACTE).)

The "Teachers of Promise" initiative, sponsored in part by the Virginia Department of Education and supported by the Virginia Milken Educator Network and the Governor’s Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant, is designed "to honor the best and brightest future educators" and "to encourage outstanding teacher candidates from Virginia’s teacher education programs to remain in the state."

In an effort to support its strongest teacher candidates, the state provides guidance for the new Teachers of Promise by providing them with mentors who are veteran teachers who have been recognized as "Teachers of the Year" in Virginia.

Lori H. Leaman, instructor of , attended the institute with the three students. "The institute felt like an affirmation of EMU