USI Alumni Leading Regional Education
by Trish Shea
Graduates of the University of Southern Indiana are transforming local school districts through leadership, innovation and a deep commitment to community.
For USI President Steve Bridges '89 M'95, the story of the University's Teacher Education Program is also the story of his family. His daughter, Emma Bridges '14, is now a school principal in Henderson, Kentucky, serving in the same school corporation where her mother works.
"My daughter wasn't initially planning to teach," Bridges recalled. "But after one of her former teachers was injured and asked her to sub, she stepped in. That experience lit a spark, and eventually she took over the role permanently."
Student teaching at an Evansville high school, he says, gave her an entirely different perspective. "She saw students lined up at 6 a.m. for breakfast. It was eye-opening and formative. Today, she brings that empathy and understanding to her leadership."
Bridges cites his daughter's story as a microcosm of USI's broader mission: to prepare educators who not only teach but also lead, often in the very communities where they grew up. "When our graduates thrive, our region thrives," he said.
USI's Teacher Education Program has been a cornerstone of the University since its early days, growing steadily from strong foundations in elementary, early childhood and leadership credentials.
"All of our professors have been educators themselves," said Dr. Mary Ann Cahill, Professor and Chair of Teacher Education. "We build close relationships with our students and root for their success."
The department's partnerships with local schools are deep and longstanding. Nearly half of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation's (EVSC) 1,600 teachers—792 educators—are USI alumni.¹ Every education student completes at least one field placement within EVSC, providing them with firsthand experience in classrooms, curriculum and community needs. The quality of those teachers is also evident. For example, in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation's (Columbus, Indiana) 2024-25 teacher performance report, seven USI alumni earned the highest average score in Universal Design for Learning (3.83) and the highest overall evaluation score (3.71) among all institutions represented.
"That kind of performance tells us our graduates
are not just prepared—they're excelling."
- Dr. Mary Ann Cahill, Professor and Chair of Teacher Education
For many, the connection begins before college. USI's Be a Teacher Day, launched in 2023, immediately exceeded expectations, drawing more than 365 high school students from across the Tri-state region—over seven times the anticipated number. The biannual event offers an immersive introduction to the profession through panel discussions, keynote speakers, mock classroom sessions and campus tours.
"It's exciting to see the full-circle effect," Bridges says. "Many of the leaders bringing students to Be a Teacher Day are USI alumni themselves. That kind of enthusiasm tells you something important is happening."
In just three years, Be a Teacher Day has become a model for similar initiatives across Indiana, helping to address teacher shortages and inspiring the next generation of educators.
USI's education faculty are central to its success. Dr. Rob Carroll '92, Assistant Professor of Education and 2023-24 Screagle Pride Award recipient, is celebrated for his unwavering commitment to student success, saying, "I serve USI students with the same care and commitment I'd give my own children."
Dr. Jill Raisor '03, Professor of Education and USI's 2023 Distinguished Professor, is recognized for her excellence in teaching, scholarship and community engagement. Dr. Tori Colson, Assistant Dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education, was honored in the 2023 Class of Phenomenal Women of USI for her contributions to the community.
"These faculty are shaping not just teachers, but leaders," said Bridges. "When I ask alumni who influenced them, I hear these names again and again."
Across southern Indiana, an increasing number of USI graduates are rising from the classroom to the highest levels of educational leadership, taking the helm as principals, superintendents and district administrators, where they shape policy, mentor teachers and drive systemic change that impacts entire school communities.
USI's Teacher Education Program extends from undergraduate majors in early childhood, elementary and special education to master's programs, superintendent licensure and the EdD doctoral degree. The latter, delivered synchronously online, draws students from across the country while maintaining the real-time engagement that defines USI's approach.
Leadership development is woven into graduate programs, requiring students to identify and research a "problem of practice" from their work setting. Plans are underway for a first-year teacher support group to help new educators navigate challenges and remain in the profession.
"We want to provide ongoing encouragement and connection," Cahill said. "The statistics aren't great—many teachers leave within three years. We're here to change that."
Bridges sees USI's role as part of a continuum from pre-K through doctoral education. "Even at the state level, there's a shift toward seeing education as one vertical," he said. "We need to embrace that. Developing relationships across the educational spectrum is part of our DNA."
He believes the next frontier is aligning programs even more closely with community and business needs. "It's about good stewardship," he said. "If we prepare graduates who meet those needs, we're investing in regional growth."
From the high school student inspired by Be a Teacher Day to the superintendent implementing district-wide reform, USI's impact on education in southern Indiana is undeniable. Its graduates are not only meeting the challenges of today's classrooms—they're shaping the systems that will serve students for decades to come.
"Education has shaped my life," Bridges said. "I was a first-generation college student. Now, all three of my children have degrees. That's the kind of generational impact we can have. And that's why we do this work, because when our graduates thrive, our communities thrive."
- President Steve Bridges
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