Northwestern Future Educator’s Day Feb. 5; Registration Ends Jan. 31

January 29, 2025

All current Northwestern Oklahoma State University students as well as high school juniors, seniors and their sponsors are welcome to register to attend Future Educator’s Day on Feb. 5 in the Student Center Ballroom from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This Division of Education-sponsored event is free to those interested in learning more about majoring in education at Northwestern.

Students and their sponsors should register by Jan. 31 using www.nwosu.edu/forms/future-educators-day or contact Dr. Jen Oswald, education division chair and associate professor of education, at (580) 327-8451 or jdoswald@nwosu.edu.

The keynote speaker is 2024 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Rachel Keith, a high school teacher in Ada. Keith, who is scheduled to speak from 9:50-10:20 a.m., teaches 10^th-12^th grade AP language and composition, mock trial, and humanities and has taught ELA classes for 19 years.

Keith said that being a public school teacher is the greatest way she can serve her fellow Oklahomans. As the current Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, she hopes to inspire both traditional and non-traditional educators to find their teacher VOICE and raise the impact every teacher has on Oklahoma. She said the best avenue to building strong, influential teachers is through intentional peer mentorships.

Following the keynote, those attending will break out into sessions before and after lunch.

Schedule of breakout sessions includes:

11:15-11:45:

Campus Tour – Meet in the Ballroom
Susan Pinson, Oklahoma Educational Quality & Accountability - Leading Where You Are – Education Center 218
Jennifer Gambrell, Oklahoma Retired Educators Association – Oklahoma Teacher Retirement – Education Center 109

11:45-12:45: Lunch

12:45-1:15:

Jess Tucker, Inspired to Teach Coordinator at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education – Inspired to Teach Program – Ballroom

Northwestern Student Teachers Panel talking about their experiences in student teaching this semester – Education Center 218
Dr. Steve Maier, Northwestern Dean of Faculty, Why Teach? – Education Center 109

1:20-1:50:

Financial Aid Q&A for High Schoolers – Tara Hannaford, director of financial aid at Northwestern, Ballroom
Dr. Mark Zadorozny, assistant professor of health and sports science education – Teaching & Coaching – Education Center 218
Dr. Marian Braten-Hall, assistant professor of education, and Northwestern Aspiring Educators – Be Active; Make a Difference – Education Center 109

1:50-2:05: Ballroom for the closing and door prizes

“We are excited for a day to celebrate future educators and the teaching profession,” Oswald said.

For more information about Northwestern’s Division of Education, please contact Oswald or visit their web page at https://www.nwosu.edu/school-of-professional-studies/education.

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