Last Updated on May 7, 2019 by cassnetwork
KOKOMO, Ind. – The Indiana University Kokomo School of Education welcomed members of its first incoming class of Tomorrow’s Teachers: Growing Our Own students, during its annual recognition ceremony.
Ten high school seniors, who have completed dual credit classes taught at their schools and enrolled at IU Kokomo for the 2019-2020 academic year, were honored during the program.
Dean Leah Nellis said the students completed two classes taught by Christina Romero-Ivanova, assistant professor of education, volunteered and assisted in classrooms in their district, and attended many on-campus events.
“These students were selected as part of our inaugural Tomorrow’s Teachers program because they have the interest, heart, and academic potential to be dynamic teachers of the future,” she said. “Having this experience means they will come to campus with hands-on experience, an understanding of the education profession, existing relationships, a more confident decision about their major and career path, and more confidence in their ability to ‘do college’ and be an educator.”
The program meets a critical need, as an October 2017 survey of Indiana superintendents found 94 percent of 141 school districts have a teacher shortage, up 2 percent from 2016. The participating districts — Kokomo, Logansport, Western and Caston — hope to address their own shortages by growing their own future teachers with the program.
The School of Education received a grant from the IU Kokomo Applied and Community Research Center to develop the program.
Tomorrow’s Teachers students honored included:
Caston High School, Rochester: Destiny Ray, Johanna Sosa
Kokomo High School: Courtney Brackett, Emily Evans, Emily Herschberger, Zara Hooper
Logansport High School: Anna Hayden, Hannah Jewell, Adilene Rodriguez Rodriguez
Western High School: Marlie Chaffee
SOURCE: News release from Indiana University Kokomo which serves north central Indiana.