Thomas College’s Lunder School of Education and the Center for Innovation in Education presents the Educators Rising Pre-Service Teacher Conference on April 1 at Thomas College in Waterville. This conference is open to pre-service teachers from any Maine college and high school seniors interested in becoming teachers.
This conference is the first of its kind in Maine and will focus on topics that are important for pre-service teachers including getting a job, the first year of teaching, and more. This conference is made by pre-service teachers, including conference co-chairs and Thomas College students Abby Bolvin and Kathryn Nightingale, for pre-service teachers and is part of a larger, national network of the organization, Educators Rising.
During the conference, the award for the Preservice Teacher of the Year will be announced, which carries an honorarium of $1000. Seniors in teacher prep programs across the state of Maine were eligible for the award and the three finalists will attend the conference on April 1.
When: April 1, 2022, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Thomas College, 180 West River Road, Waterville
Schedule of events:
- 8:30 a.m. – Registration & Breakfast
- 9-10 a.m. – Keynote with Dr. Monte Shelby talks (and sings) building student relationships.
- 10-10:50 a.m. – Session 1:
- County Teacher of the Year Patti Forster talks classroom management at the high school level
- Principal Zach Longyear talks getting the job
- Mike Muir talks helping students get self-motivated
- Amy Tuker and Sue Caron talk integrated curriculum and student advisory groups
- 11-11:50 a.m. – Session 2:
- Sue Caron and Amy Tucker talk controversial topics and handling hard conversations
- Principal Monte Selby talks the beauty and the beast of very small schools
- County Teacher of the Year Lindsay Mahoney, Principal Zach Longyear, and Erin LaPlante talk finding success in the first year
- Dr. Theresa Overall and UMF preservice teachers talk not-your-traditional assessments using tech for grades 6-12
- 12- Lunch and Awards (announcement of $1,000 Preservice Teacher of the Year award)
- 1-1:50 p.m. – Session 3:
- Maine Teacher of the Year Heather Whitaker talks middle school classroom management
- CTOY Lindsey Mahoney talks math anxiety and innovative math practices at the MS level
- County Teacher of the Year Jessica Harvey talks elementary school classroom management
- 1:50-2: Closing Remarks
Currently, more than 90 Maine college and high school students are registered to attend.
Presenters include current Maine principals and Maine Teachers of the Year. Thomas College is happy to partner with the Maine Association for Middle Level Education and the Maine Department of Education.
About Thomas College
Thomas College, located in beautiful Waterville, Maine, is defining what it means to be the College of the Future. With a strong commitment to innovation, career readiness, and community partnerships, Thomas College is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of Maine’s top colleges for social mobility. Our distinctive Guaranteed Job Program™, accelerated undergraduate degrees, and flexible graduate programs empower students to advance faster in business, entrepreneurship, education, technology, applied STEM, and arts & science fields. At Thomas, belonging isn’t a buzzword; it’s a promise. We create a supportive, welcoming environment where every student is seen, valued, and prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world. For more information visit thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley Young at [email protected] or 207-859-1313. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok.