TU hosts aspiring educators for state conference
More than 100 middle and high school students from across the state converge at TU for the inaugural Maryland Educators Rising Conference
By Rebecca Kirkman on March 23, 2019
“Think of a big, bold goal you have for yourself related to education,” says Towson University College of Education Dean Laurie Mullen to more than 100 middle and high school students seated in the West Village Commons Ballroom.
She’s kicking off the inaugural Maryland State Educators Rising Conference, which brought future educators from across the state of Maryland to the TU campus for a day of education, competition, and networking on March 20.
“Maybe the goal is to do a competition today. Or maybe your big, bold goal is to start a school one day, or win Maryland Teacher of the Year, or get into the university of your choice. As you leave, share that goal with someone, because the more you can be intentional with your goals, the more we can make them come true,” she continues. “I will do the same thing. Because education is a profession where we keep on learning, we keep on pushing ourselves.”
Last spring, Towson University — and the College of Education — was selected as the official state affiliate for Educators Rising. With a network of more than 2,400 schools and thousands of members across the country, Educators Rising’s mission includes guiding young people along the path to become highly skilled educators and advocating for diversity in the teaching profession.
“This partnership provides us with a unique opportunity to interact with thousands of Maryland high school students who are exploring teaching as a career,” says Mullen. “Just as importantly, it also directly supports our goal of being actively engaged in the state and region in urban education and equity in significant ways.”
After a keynote address from Tamir D. Harper, an urban education advocate and secondary education student at American University, around two dozen high school students assembled in a small group for a frank discussion about their challenges, hopes and future goals.
Students spoke about times they have felt discouraged about their career choice and advice on how to study and stay motivated in school.
A half-dozen breakout workshops included sessions on “Mobile Learning in the Secondary Classroom” and “Bullies: They Perform at Any Age.”
About 25 TU student volunteers took the visiting students on a tour of campus and for short presentations at the Watson-King Planetarium and The SandBox, a new makerspace in Hawkins Hall.
College of Education students Mai Bird-Walker and Theodore Dardaris demonstrate the makerspace’s Ultimaker 3-D printers for as a group of students from Charles County eagerly crowd around the machines. Dardaris, a senior studying elementary education and special education, was excited about the chance to volunteer at the conference.
“There can be negativity toward the teaching profession—that you can only make so much or go so far,” says Dardaris, for whom teaching is a second career. “I don’t believe it, and it’s nice to get out and advocate for the profession when you can.”
This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland.