Celebration of Teachers & Teaching @FairfieldU - Rounds of Applause for the 42 Graduate Students Completing Student Teaching & Surviving EdTPA

Since 2011, I've been planning and hosting the Celebration of Teachers and Teaching as part of our Spring program, May being the month that our soon-to-be-graduates finished their student teaching in community schools and, now, uploaded their materials to Connecticut's EdTPA assessment program. Graduate courses are taught, student teaching is tougher, and having to fulfill State requirements is the toughest task of them all. Our labor is of love and passion, and some of that means holding our programs to state and national accreditation that transcends the University. We prepare professionals for the nation and the volume of work it takes to get each student to this successful place requires cooperating teachers, supervisors, faculty, staff, administrators and multiple community partners. 

As my own son attests, "The best way to help fix the social ills of society is to have campuses invest in stellar teaching programs. The surest ways to reach kids in our schools is to offer them excellent teachers."

Last night, we also hosted award recipients Jessica Baldizon and William King as the keynotes, who also emphasized the importance of human togetherness, community, and an investment in relationships. 

As I listened to my colleagues of multiple disciplines discuss the excellence of their students and the achievements they've made, I couldn't help but be proud. This is the work of many mountains, rivers, streams, oceans, and skies. Each student is a product of the excellence of those who invest so much into Graduate courses, advising, and mentoring. It is the heartbeat of the work.

A final shout out to Dr. Ryan Colwell, who once again oversaw an incredible crew of elementary education students and who, finally, can take respite from his stellar Chairmanship over several tumultuous years. He deserves all the respect, grace, and appreciation out there. He's been a champion for the impossible, but an action-guy who made it all possible. 

I hope the books and iris bulbs gifted to every graduate student blooms for many years to come.