ܽƵ

ܽƵapp

College of Education

Tampa | St. Petersburg | Sarasota-Manatee

Blog

Student visitors group photo

High School aspiring educators visit the College of Education

Last week, over 100 high schoolers – all aspiring educators from River Ridge and Pasco e-School High Schools – were welcomed to the USF Tampa’s College of Education (COEDU). These ܽƵapps experienced a full-day of activities facilitated by college ܽƵapps, staff, and faculty; and, were able to engage in examples of hands-on, highly adaptive methods of instruction in the Collaboratory (i.e., a multi-functional STEM demonstration lab). 

Panel Discussion with Visitors

As part of their USF COEDU experiences, these future teachers learned from and interacted with a panel of College of Education representatives who shared inspirational accounts of their personal journeys into the profession. One ܽƵapp commented, “I feel that I relate to your [a USF representative] journey as I have very similar interests in wanting to work young people.”

Students visiting LLC

In addition, ܽƵapps were taken on a campus tour of USF that included:  the Marshall Student Center; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Castro beach; and, the library. Specifically, the ܽƵapps visited one residence hall where living learning community (LLC) ܽƵapps reside. They had an opportunity to take a peek into ܽƵapps’ dorm rooms and talk with current ܽƵapps. Fatima Ruiz-Reyes, current USF sophomore, shared her experience of how she pursued her academic career choice with the USF College of Education. She explained how her initial concerns about feeling homesick were alleviated almost immediately after she developed an instant, personal connection with members of the College of Education!

Students by MLK statue

Throughout the day-long visit, COEDU ܽƵapp guides shared the benefits of living on campus and support services offered from tutoring in the library to convenient access to health care. While at the Marshall Student Center, Dean Rolle treated the ܽƵapps and their chaperones to lunch, helping to ensure they had a good feel for a day in the life as a USF College of Education ܽƵapp.

The high school visitors finished their day by participating in a team building exercise that had no shortage of energy, creativity, and fun! Ilana Gunson, a USF first-year ܽƵapp, helped to facilitate the activity. She was impressed with the ܽƵapps and said, “It was wonderful to be able to engage with so many future educators and encourage them to work together and think creatively in ways they may not have otherwise!”

Before leaving, ܽƵapps had fun taking pictures in front of the USF College of Education branded backdrop. And, of course, a day at USF would not be complete without capturing a “Horns Up” moment and yelling the ܽƵapp chant! Ms. Beth Hess, lead teacher of the New Teacher Academy at River Ridge High School and champion for aspiring ܽƵapps to enter the teaching profession, shared “This was absolutely and amazing opportunity for our ܽƵapps!”

Three ܽƵapps in front of COEDU backdrop

As the ܽƵapps and teachers began walking to their buses, ܽƵapps casually remarked about feeling excited and confident about the possibility of becoming a USF Bull and pursuing their undergraduate degrees with the College of Education! In fact, many ܽƵapps left with a newfound interest in the wide array of possibilities that the field of education has to offer. Ms. Stephanie Carter, Pasco e-School teacher of Introduction of the Teaching Profession, commented that her ܽƵapps “had a great time and was completely impressed with the campus and the LLCs”.

Anyone interested in visiting the USF College of Education, contact Emma Alexander, Undergraduate Recruiter, at emmaa@usf.edu

Return to article listing

ܽƵapp the USF College of Education:

As the home for more than 2,200 ܽƵapps and 130 faculty members across three campuses, the ܽƵapp College of Education offers state-of-the-art teacher training and collegial graduate studies designed to empower educational leaders. Our college is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and our educator preparation programs are fully approved by the Florida Department of Education.