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College of Education

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Student visitors group photo

High School aspiring educators visit the College of Education

Last week, over 100 high schoolers – all aspiring educators from River Ridge and Pasco e-School High Schools – were welcomed to the ƵTampa’s College of Education (COEDU). These students experienced a full-day of activities facilitated by college students, staff, and faculty; and, were able to engage in examples of hands-on, highly adaptive methods of instruction in the Collaboratory (i.e., a multi-functional STEM demonstration lab). 

Panel Discussion with Visitors

As part of their ƵCOEDU experiences, these future teachers learned from and interacted with a panel of College of Education representatives who shared inspirational accounts of their personal journeys into the profession. One student commented, “I feel that I relate to your [a Ƶrepresentative] journey as I have very similar interests in wanting to work young people.”

Students visiting LLC

In addition, students were taken on a campus tour of Ƶthat included:  the Marshall Student Center; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Castro beach; and, the library. Specifically, the students visited one residence hall where living learning community (LLC) students reside. They had an opportunity to take a peek into students’ dorm rooms and talk with current students. Fatima Ruiz-Reyes, current Ƶsophomore, shared her experience of how she pursued her academic career choice with the ƵCollege of Education. She explained how her initial concerns about feeling homesick were alleviated almost immediately after she developed an instant, personal connection with members of the College of Education!

Students by MLK statue

Throughout the day-long visit, COEDU student guides shared the benefits of living on campus and support services offered from tutoring in the library to convenient access to health care. While at the Marshall Student Center, Dean Rolle treated the students and their chaperones to lunch, helping to ensure they had a good feel for a day in the life as a ƵCollege of Education student.

The high school visitors finished their day by participating in a team building exercise that had no shortage of energy, creativity, and fun! Ilana Gunson, a Ƶfirst-year student, helped to facilitate the activity. She was impressed with the students and said, “It was wonderful to be able to engage with so many future educators and encourage them to work together and think creatively in ways they may not have otherwise!”

Before leaving, students had fun taking pictures in front of the ƵCollege of Education branded backdrop. And, of course, a day at Ƶwould not be complete without capturing a “Horns Up” moment and yelling the Ƶ chant! Ms. Beth Hess, lead teacher of the New Teacher Academy at River Ridge High School and champion for aspiring students to enter the teaching profession, shared “This was absolutely and amazing opportunity for our students!”

Three students in front of COEDU backdrop

As the students and teachers began walking to their buses, students casually remarked about feeling excited and confident about the possibility of becoming a ƵBull and pursuing their undergraduate degrees with the College of Education! In fact, many students left with a newfound interest in the wide array of possibilities that the field of education has to offer. Ms. Stephanie Carter, Pasco e-School teacher of Introduction of the Teaching Profession, commented that her students “had a great time and was completely impressed with the campus and the LLCs”.

Anyone interested in visiting the ƵCollege of Education, contact Emma Alexander, Undergraduate Recruiter, at emmaa@usf.edu

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About the ƵCollege of Education:

As the home for more than 2,200 students and 130 faculty members across three campuses, the Ƶ College of Education offers state-of-the-art teacher training and collegial graduate studies designed to empower educational leaders. Our college is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and our educator preparation programs are fully approved by the Florida Department of Education.