Celebrating FEA's 75th birthday are Grant Career Center Teacher Academy members Samantha Gregory, Toshia Reffit, Sarah Van Over and Rachel Heflin. Gregory, Reffit and Heflin are New Richmond students. (Pam McKinney photo)Three New Richmond students enrolled in the Grant Career Center Teacher Academy recently attended the 23rd Annual Future Educators Association (FEA) National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
Participants from Grant Career Center included Samantha Gregory, Rachel Heflin and Toshia Reffit from New Richmond along with Grant student Sarah Van Over, FEA adviser Julie Crozier, and Grant public relations director Pam McKinney.
About 1100 future educators from middle schools, high schools, and colleges nationwide attended the conference. Participants from Grant Career Center included Samantha Gregory, Rachel Heflin, Toshia Reffit, Sarah Van Over, FEA adviser Julie Crozier, and public relations director Pam McKinney.
During the Friday evening opening session, dinner tables were decorated with birthday cards and birthday hats to help students celebrate the 75th anniversary of FEA inspiring future educators.
The keynote speaker was America Ferrera, star of ABC’s “Ugly Betty” and feature films including “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” Ms. Ferrara, a Save the Children ambassador who helped raise funds for a new elementary school in Mali, spoke about the importance of arts education and encouraged FEA members to be sources of inspiration and compassion for their students.
Saturday’s keynote speaker was Michelle Shearer, the 2011 National Teacher of the Year. Shearer shared with the students that teachers have the ability to change lives and gave students some valuable advice: “The classroom is your mirror. Everything you put into it comes back to you.” Saturday’s session included college day exhibits where Teacher Academy students had the opportunity to speak to university recruiters and college instructors and to network with future educators from across the nation. Students also had the opportunity to attend a variety of breakout sessions to enhance their future classroom activities.
Sunday’s keynote speaker, National Education Association Vice-President Lily Eskelsen, said she was in awe of the future that is being built by future teachers and told attendees they would become better people because of the lessons their students would teach to them.
Following the daily sessions, The Teacher Academy students explored the Maryland Science Center and Davis Planetarium, Harborplace and The Gallery Mall, and the National Aquarium where they enjoyed a dolphin show and the 4-D Immersion Theater movie, “Australia: Wild Extremes.”
Any current junnior interested in a career as a educator should investigate career options and college partnerships with the Teacher Academy at http://www.grantcareer.com/ or call the Career Center for more information at 513-734-6222.
-- Pam McKinney
-- Public relations director
-- Grant Career Center
