Administration

Communications

C-SC student teachers are enthusiastic after education career fair
Monday, April 05, 2010

CANTON, Mo. – Recent headlines regarding school financing and layoffs can be discouraging to graduating student teachers. However, this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the twenty Culver-Stockton College student teachers who were able to meet with representatives from surrounding school districts at the Education Career Fair and Interview Day held recently on the C-SC campus.

Every year the C-SC Education Division brings representatives to from school districts in the area to meet with and interview graduating student teachers from C-SC. This year more than 60 interviews were conducted with C-SC Students. School districts who attended this year’s event include: Adair County R-2, Brashear, Mo.; Knox County School District, Edina, Mo.; Mark Twain High School, Center, Mo.; Canton R-V School District, Canton, Mo.; Liberty School District, Liberty, Ill.; Keokuk Community School District, Keokuk, Iowa; and East-West Ministries, Dallas, Texas.

Danielle Adams, senior early childhood education major from Lewistown, Mo., said she felt the career fair “was very beneficial in preparing her for further interviews.”

Tom Fallert, senior physical education major from Troy, Mo., said “it was very productive and it was nice to go through the process for the first time in familiar surroundings.”

Knox County Schools have hired five C-SC teacher candidates in the past two years.

“Culver-Stockton students have been an excellent addition to our school district,” said Andy Turgeon, Knox County High School Principal. “The Interview Day was a great opportunity for the students as well as our school district.”

Jake Moss, Mark Twain High School principal said “The students were professional, well prepared, demonstrated up-to-date knowledge of the key concepts of universal design, and possessed a strong understanding of differentiated instruction and assessment strategies.

In addition to being able to participate in interviews, C-SC students also had the opportunity to attend a presentation about teaching opportunities overseas, given by Shauna Spratt, development and recruiting coordinator for East-West Ministries, Dallas, Texas. Spratt recruits teachers for overseas missions. This may not have been an option that student teachers had previously considered, but it is an example of teaching opportunities that lie outside of the tri-state area.

“This career fair is one of the best I have ever been to,” said Spratt. “It was extremely well organized and the time was used very efficiently.”

Each representative from each school district was given a copy of the newly developed C-SC teacher candidate directory. Dave Wendt, representative from the Keokuk Community School District described it as “a great resource for school districts.”

Photo 1: Danielle Adams, C-SC senior early childhood education major from Lewistown, Mo., interviews with Andy Turgeon, Knox County High School Principal, during the Education Career Fair and Interview Day held recently on the C-SC campus.

Photo 2: Education majors visit with Terry Sherer, associate professor of education and Chair of the Division of Education and Applied Arts, before interviewing with representatives from area school districts at the Education Career Fair and Interview Day held recently on the C-SC campus.