The College of Arts and Sciences Education Program (CASEP) Future Teachers Power Hour was established in Fall 2017 and continues to provide this space as a monthly guest speaker series that welcomes all NEIU students who are interested in the art of teaching.
“Future Teachers Power Hour was inspired by students who desired a monthly opportunity to connect with other future teachers as well as hear from luminaries in the field of education,” said Jeremy Babcock, CASEP director and Future Teachers Power Hour facilitator. “Guest speakers share their thoughts on the teaching profession, describe their own educational journeys, and offer up advice for students thinking about a career in teaching. All of this occurs in a relaxed environment where students can build camaraderie.”
On Nov. 18, the Future Teachers Power Hour welcomed Alderman Samantha Nugent and her Chief of Staff Erika Wozniak. The event was held at the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs. Students in attendance participated in community building activities focused on engaging classroom management strategies as they conversed with Nugent and Wozniak, a former Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teacher.
Past speakers have included current CPS teachers, principals, and representatives from teaching preparation programs such as Grow Your Own Teachers and Golden Apple. Future Our September Future Teachers Power Hour recently welcomed Northeastern’s Executive of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Shireen Roshanravan, who facilitated a space for students to talk about the importance of EDI in the classroom.
“Throughout the course of the pandemic, we have offered a number of our sessions virtually when in-person meetings were not an option in order to maintain our sense of community,” Babcock said. “Whether in remote or socially distanced sessions, students remain engaged and ask insightful questions. All the conversations are geared toward helping students become better future educators and, from what I’ve seen, our students will be motivational leaders in their schools, and most importantly, they will inspire their future students.”
The next Future Teachers Power Hour is scheduled to take place from 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 in Room SU 214 on the Main Campus. For more information about CASEP or the Future Teachers Power Hour guest speaker series, contact Babcock, j-babcock@neiu.edu or (773) 442-5654.
