The teacher induction ceremony in the School of Education marks a milestone in the academic journey of teacher candidates. On Sept. 20, 2018, a new cohort of 63 teacher candidates was inducted into the teacher education program.
The School of Education’s teacher induction ceremony on Sept. 20, 2018, recognized 63 new admits — those who are transitioning from teacher education students to teacher candidates.
Each candidate passed the ACT/SAT or CORE Academic Skills tests with a higher than average score, achieved an overall GPA of 2.70 or higher and passed all prerequisites with no grade lower than a C, received positive recommendations from non-EDU Elon faculty, demonstrated appropriate disposition befitting a professional, and continues to uphold Elon’s Academic and Social Honor Code.
As teacher candidates, they will participate in coursework and more intensive clinical experiences, learn about how to facilitate and assess student learning, deepen their understanding of student behavior and how to organize and manage a classroom.
The induction ceremony strives to build cohesion across all teacher education programs within the School of Education. Cohesion is an important part of retaining and motivating students through to graduation and into their teaching careers.
Ben Rogers ‘19, aspiring secondary mathematics teacher and Teaching Fellow, introduced Lee Williams, principal of Graham Middle School, as devoted and passionate about enhancing the educational system for all students with a hyper-focus on closing the opportunity gap for students of color.
“Mr. Williams believes it is imperative that we support teachers in this very important work, as we are requiring them to help guide our next generation to their own destiny through education,” Rogers said.
Williams refers to teachers as “life changers,” and believes that teachers have the richest profession on Earth. Education is the pillar of everything else, he said.
In conclusion, Williams compared education to using Google Maps to reach your final destination, to illustrate that sometimes our students go in a different direction not that they went the wrong way. He stressed the educational system was not designed with everyone in mind, but everyone can learn. He empowered the teacher candidates “to change the narrative, to change that life.”
Teacher candidates were recognized individually by Ann Bullock, dean of the School of Education, and received a certificate from Marna Winter, lecturer and chair of the Department of Education and Wellness, to symbolize their transition into the teaching profession.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Bullock charged the new cohort of teacher candidates to “be proud to be a teacher.”
The ceremony was organized by the School of Education Induction Ceremony committee members: Cherrel Dyce (committee chair), Marna Winter and Jennifer Strange.