抖阴探探App's (抖阴探探App) School of Teacher Education welcomed education majors and aspiring educators from local high schools to its inaugural ENCOUNTER Education Conference on Feb. 25 at the Barnes Student Center, bringing together 240 future teachers and community leaders to explore the vital role education plays in shaping thriving communities.
The conference, held from 9 to 11:30 a.m., featured a keynote address by Marion Mayor Ronald Morrell Jr., hands-on breakout sessions, and a closing panel discussion designed to prepare teacher candidates for one of the profession's most essential, often overlooked skills: collaborating with parents.
The event was conceived to bridge the gap between classroom theory and professional practice, according to organizers.
"Working with families will always be vital to student success," said Ben Hyde, assistant professor of education and conference chair, "but even more so in a post-COVID world that has resulted in significant mental health, attendance, and academic challenges unforeseen in our lifetime. If families and teachers can work together to support students, their chance of success increases dramatically in comparison to teachers working in isolation."
Hyde noted that higher education can sometimes lean heavily on theory. While this is important, he qualified, pre-service teachers need to be prepared for the reality of teaching. "As I tell my students all the time, when the pencil gets thrown at you or the curse words start flying, Lev Vygotsky's theory about constructivism goes out the window. If students learned something practical today, it was a conference well spent."
Vonda Bradt, assistant professor of exceptional needs education and a conference organizer, said the event was developed in direct response to student concerns.
"Many of our students have expressed their concern and apprehension in communicating with parents and other stakeholders after they graduate," Bradt said. "They did not feel prepared. This conference was developed to meet that need."
Attendees participated in four breakout sessions led by faculty and staff, covering parent-teacher conferences, discipline conferences, case conferences (i.e. exceptional needs like Individualized Education Programs), and open house preparation. The sessions gave pre-service teachers a structured opportunity to practice the conversations and scenarios they will encounter in their careers.
Student takeaways from the sessions reflected the practical value of the experience. "When informing parents about negative behavior, it is essential to highlight successes and share them with parents as well," one student noted. "Starting with the positives can help the parent receive the negatives."
Marion Mayor Ronald Morrell Jr. delivered the keynote address, challenging attendees to think broadly about their roles as educators and community stakeholders.
"Education is no longer an option for community survival," Morrell said. He drew a direct line between strong educational systems and economic vitality, noting that "skilled workers attract employers" and "communities with strong education systems have strong economies."
Morrell urged the audience—many of them on the threshold of their careers—to think beyond immediate job prospects and toward lasting impact. "We cannot encourage young people to prepare for a world that no longer exists," he said. "The future of your community will not be built by change, but by choice."
He also challenged every person in the room to reflect on their own civic engagement. "If you're here, wherever here is, you're a stakeholder," he said. "Whether you're an informed stakeholder or an uninformed one is up to you."
Student Government Association representative Macy Mandrell said the conference succeeded in reshaping how pre-service teachers think about their relationships with families.
"As pre-service and veteran teachers, we were able to come together to learn how to take a posture of empathy, professionality, and compassion when entering spaces to engage with parents and families about their child's learning," Mandrell said. "The conference proved successful in better equipping pre-service teachers to intentionally pursue healthy and caring relationships with the families of their future students."
Bradt said the response from students following the event was overwhelmingly encouraging. "The majority of the feedback we have received has been positive, and students feel more prepared and at ease," she said. "For many, the conference emphasized their purpose as educators and reaffirmed their calling and commitment."
