Ponca City High School Students Visit Northwestern-Alva for ‘Teach Oklahoma’

April 14, 2022

Students from Ponca City High School visiting Northwestern recently to learn more about the teacher education program include (left to right, front row) Northwestern education students Hannah Mosburg, Susannah Welty, PCHS teacher Ashley Campbell, PCHS students Alexis Ivers, Alecia Merriman, Sadie Stewart, PCHS assistant principal Krystina Muralt, Dr. Christee Jenlink, Northwestern student Arlene Ayala, (back row) Northwestern students Summer Whitted, Matthew Voth, Tanner Clarkson, Simeon Shepherd and Natasha Stocks.

Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Alva played host to three Ponca City High School students recently for the high school’s “Teach Oklahoma” course.

Teach Oklahoma was designed to mentor high school students about teaching and provide fundamental knowledge about the teaching profession in Oklahoma. The course is supported by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Northwestern teacher candidates who assisted included Woodward senior Arlene Ayala, Alva senior Tanner Clarkson, Beaver senior Hannah Mosburg, Blackwell senior Simeon Shepherd, Enid junior Natasha Stocks, Hutchinson, Kansas, junior Matthew Voth, Alva senior Susannah Welty and Alva senior Summer Whitted.

PCHS students attending included Alexis Ivers, Alecia Merriman and Sadie Stewart, along with teacher Ashley Campbell and assistant principal Krystina Muralt.

The day’s activities included the PCHS students playing a Kahoots game that consisted of questions about Northwestern, the teacher preparation program and teacher certification requirements. The PCHS students partnered with Northwestern teacher candidates to play the game.

The high school students also toured the campus and had lunch in the Coronado Café. They were welcomed by Dr. Bo Hannaford, executive vice president, and Dr. James Bell, associate vice president for academics and dean of faculty. Specific information about Northwestern was presented by Calleb Mosburg, dean of student affairs and enrollment management. 

Dr. Christee Jenlink, professor of education, chair of the Division of Education and associate dean of the School of Education, understands and believes in the importance of students actively learning and getting hands-on experience, especially in the teaching field. 

“Northwestern is pleased that Ponca City High School has implemented the Teach Oklahoma program this spring semester,” Jenlink said. “The intent is for Ponca City Public Schools to ‘grow their own’ teachers in this time when there is a critical shortage of well-qualified individuals to be in classrooms. Dr. Dalana Hawkins, assistant director of secondary curriculum for Ponca City Public Schools and member of the Northwestern Division of Education advisory board, deserves much credit for the establishment of the program at Ponca City High School.

“The collaboration between Northwestern and the Ponca City High School Teach Oklahoma program is another strategy in having ‘day one ready’ educators in classrooms across Oklahoma.”

Northwestern’s teacher education program, which is housed in the Division of Education, is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability (CEOA).

For more information about Northwestern’s teaching programs contact Jenlink at (580) 327-8450 or cljenlink@nwosu.edu or visit their web page at www.nwosu.edu/school-of-professional-studies/education.

-NW-

CONTACT FOR RELEASE
Erin Davis, University Relations Specialist
eedavis@nwosu.edu 580-327-8480