USI to host second annual Be a Teacher Day

The University of Southern Indiana’s Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education is hosting its second annual Be a Teacher Day on Wednesday, February 28 on the USI campus. The event will highlight the importance of the profession of education, allow students to meet current teaching professionals and teacher education students, as well as ask questions about the profession. The day will kick off with a staggered check in for Eastern and Central time zone schools from 8 to 9:20 a.m. at the Fuquay Welcome Center and then move to the USI Performance Center. Registration is open through February 14.

The event will include a panel discussion with a superintendent, a principal, a special education teacher, a first-year teacher, and current USI teacher education students; a keynote presentation; a major matching event; a classroom experience; and a tour of campus.  

Last year's event was a huge success, drawing more than 350 high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors from the Tri-state area. USI’s Teacher Education Department was thrilled with the outpouring of interest and is looking to provide prospective students with a unique, engaging experience. 

“Last year’s event exceeded our expectations, drawing students who were genuinely excited about education,” says Dr. Tori Colson, Assistant Dean of the Pott College and Interim Chair of Teacher Education. “We’re confident this year’s event will surpass that success with a full day of engaging activities to spark student interest in the teaching profession.” 

The keynote presentation this year will be given by Hal Bowman, a speaker, author and thought leader in revolutionizing classroom and campus culture. Bowman was a former teacher who spent over two decades in the classroom and now works to help teachers and school leaders create the most effective environment for student success and teacher retention. “Hal Bowman is an inspiration to educators across the country and will impart a hunger for teaching in these aspiring educators,” says Dr. William Elliott, Interim Dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. 

USI’s Teacher Education Department offers a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science through the following majors: 

• Early childhood education 
• Elementary education 
• Special education 

The teacher education minor in secondary/P-12 education may accompany any of the following majors to prepare discipline-specific teachers: 

• English teaching 
• History teaching 
• Mathematics teaching 
• Science teaching
• Earth/space science, chemistry, life science, physical science, physics
• World languages and cultures teaching (P-12)
• Physical education (P-12)
• Visual arts teaching (P-12) 

Be a Teacher Day is made possible through generous support of the USI Foundation. 

For more information and to register, visit the USI Teacher Education website. For questions, contact Elise Murray, Instructor in Education, at ecweatherh@usi.edu.