Newest teachers honored in College’s Teacher Pinning ceremony

“I am dedicated to ensuring that every child I teach receives a quality education… I am a teacher. I change the world one student at a time.” – Teacher’s Creed

So begins and ends the Teacher’s Creed created by the Purdue University College of Education and which graduates recite at a special Teacher Pinning ceremony prior to the University’s Commencement ceremony.

The College honored 78 of its 168 May graduates during the Teacher Education Pinning Ceremony on May 12, held in Stewart Center’s Loeb Playhouse on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus. All “Boilermaker Educator” graduates were invited to attend, whether they were receiving an education degree from the College of Education or from one of its partner colleges such as Agriculture, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts, College of Science, or the Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

Family, friends, and College faculty and staff celebrated these new Boilermaker Educators. Graduates received a lapel pin and a copy of the Teacher’s Creed, which they recited to conclude the program.

“Thank you for your commitment to this most important of professions,” said Phillip J. VanFossen, interim dean of the College. “Indeed, there is perhaps no job with more consequence than that of being a teacher. So thank you for choosing to be Boilermaker Educators. Boilermaker Educators help their students make Giant Leaps. Boilermaker Educators help equip their students with tools to build a better world; and Boilermaker educators have an ‘ever true’ commitment to lifelong learning.”

After VanFossen’s welcome, keynote speaker Sarah Powley (MS Educational Administration ’85) talked about one of the 6,000 students she had in her 47-year teaching career who herself became a teacher “to give my students what you’ve given me”.

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 also honored with the title “First-Generation College Graduate” when their names were called to receive their teacher pins.

Led by Kathryn Obenchain, associate dean for learning, engagement and global initiatives, the graduates and other educators in the audience stood and recited 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 the Purdue Memorial Union.

Congratulations, Class of 2023!

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.