I change the world one student at a time

College honors newest teachers honored in Teacher Pinning ceremony

The College of Education welcomed its newest graduates – as well as graduates from teacher education programs in five other Purdue University partner colleges – in a special Teacher Pinning ceremony on December 15.

Twenty-nine of 60 Teacher Education December 2023 graduates (33 from the College of Education and 27 from other Purdue colleges) attended this special Pinning Ceremony in Marriott Hall on the West Lafayette campus. Family, friends, and College faculty and staff attended to celebrate these new  teachers. Graduates received a lapel pin and a copy of the Teacher’s Creed, which they recited to conclude the program.

“This is a unique opportunity to formally welcome and acknowledge our Boilermaker Educators, and to celebrate their commitment to this noble profession,” said Phillip J. VanFossen, interim dean of the College. “This was the ninth year in a row we have held the Pinning Ceremony. I’ve been here in the College for nearly 27 years and I’ve seen a lot of ideas come and go, but few have had such a profound impact as this event.”

After VanFossen’s welcome, alumna Denise Erickson (BA Elementary Education ’92, MSED Educational Studies ‘99), Tippecanoe County School Corporation’s 2022 Golden Apple Winner and a 32-year teaching veteran, gave the keynote. She spoke to the students about the confidence Purdue instilled in them, humility, setting objectives, humor, choosing good mentors for their future teaching careers, and relating to students and their families. “If you respect students and their parents, they will respect you,” she said.

Following the keynote, Erin Perdue, alumni engagement officer for Purdue for Life, called the names of all of the graduates, and those present went forward to receive a teacher pin from Dean VanFossen. First-Generation College Graduates were especially honored with the title “First-Generation College Graduate” when their names were called to receive their teacher pins. The graduates were each presented with a blank book to record their memories, starting with their Purdue University experiences in the College of Education.

Next, Tara Star Johnson, associate dean for learning, emphasized the last part of the Teacher’s Creed about how teachers can change the world one student at a time. “You have the awesome opportunity (dare I say responsibility?) to be That Teacher who sees them, who makes their day a little better,” she said. She then led the graduates and other educators in reciting the Teacher’s Creed together:

I am dedicated to ensuring that every child I teach receives a quality education.

I will create a learning environment that encourages academic, social, and emotional achievement.

I will hold high expectations for all students and myself.

I will respect the hard-won gains of those educators in whose steps I walk and gladly share the very best practices with those who follow.

I am a teacher. I change the world one student at a time.

Dean VanFossen made closing remarks, welcoming the newest Boilermaker Educators to the teaching profession. The event ended with a reception held in Marriott Hall.

Congratulations, Boilermaker Educators!

Purdue’s College of Education meets the challenges of educating 21st Century learners by discovering what works in education. The College prepares highly qualified educators and conducts research that informs how teachers teach and students learn. With an innovative approach to teacher preparation including a focus on integrated P-12 STEM education and a commitment to social justice and diversity, graduates are prepared to be leaders in education, business, and society.

Source: Erin Perdue, elperdue@purdueforlife.org; Office of Academic Services, education@purdue.edu