The Illinois State University College of Education this week borrowed from the world of college athletics to celebrate freshman education majors as they take on a nationwide teaching shortage.
Educators Rising Illinois celebrated students at ISU who took part in their respective high school’s EdRising chapter. Freshman Redbirds met fellow students, heard from professional educators, and signed a certificate of commitment to joining the educator pipeline.
“We really do try to connect it with the students that have been working toward this since high school, whether they’re in the education pathways or educators rising,” said Christine Schweitzer, co-coordinator of EdRising Illinois.
A survey from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools shows that more than 90% of schools have a serious or very serious teacher shortage problem. Schweitzer added there are still more than 3,000 positions open across the state.
“The students need that person, the consistency, the routine,” said Schweitzer. “So when you think of the impact of not having those positions filled, it in some cases can have a really negative impact on students’ lives and whether or not a student is getting the services that they need.”
The students signed the certificates in a style familiar to fans of college sports.
Many college recruits hold ceremonial signing days, typically alongside friends and family members and sometimes held at the school they were recruited from. It sparked an idea for Schweitzer to celebrate future educators in a similar way.
“My son had signed for an athletics scholarship, and it was a really big deal at his high school,” said Schweitzer. “And I left that event and was like, ‘Why don’t we have something like this for educators?’”
Monday marked the second occasion for what is now an annual event at the Hayden Auditorium in ISU’s Thomas Metcalf School. As Schweitzer predicted, the education majors appreciated the ceremony.
“I thought that it was really cool that we were allowed to come here and actually do this,” said Amarian Owen, a student from Marion who plans to teach fifth grade after college. “There’s not many opportunities where I’m from to do this kind of stuff, so it was really an excellent sight to see that and like, see how many people actually love teaching.”
Anthony Tamayo, a student from Plainfield, said he feels more confident about his ability to succeed at Illinois State.
“This is the right school for what I want to do, this is the only place that will send me to success,” said Tamayo.
