Education Week - May 29, 2024 - 14

Signing Ceremonies Honor Students
Who Want to Be Teachers
In a growing number of schools, student-athletes aren't the only
ones in the spotlight. Future teachers are, too
By Madeline Will
In schools across the country this spring,
high school seniors are being celebrated as
they ceremoniously sign declarations of intent.
They're not student-athletes announcing
which school they are committing to-they're
future teachers.
Future teacher signing days have become
an increasingly popular tactic by school and
district leaders to strengthen the teacher pipeline.
They're a chance to position teaching as a
career that deserves recognition and applause,
and honor the teenagers who are interested in
entering the field.
" We think this is as big of a deal as announcing
that you're going to play women's
basketball at [the University of] Iowa, or
men's basketball at the University of North
Carolina, " said James Lane, the CEO of PDK
International, whose signature program is
Educators Rising, which works to create pathways
for students who want to be teachers.
" It's just as big of a deal when kids announce
that they ... want to become a teacher and give
a life of service to children. "
District leaders should be targeting their
K-12 students to ensure a sustainable supply
of teachers long term, Lane said. After all,
past research has found that more than 60
percent of teachers work within 20 miles of
where they went to high school.
" School districts spend a lot of money on
HR and recruiting, " Lane said. " But their
best recruiting tool is actually with the kids
in their community and convincing them that
education is a great life, and you can make a
difference. "
It can be a hard sell. Teaching has a reputation
as a low-paid, overworked, and disrespected
profession. Research has shown that
college undergraduates who are interested in
teaching say that they've received discouraging
messages about the field from people they
respect, such as family members, friends, and
former teachers, as well as from the media.
But signing days are a chance to flip that
narrative. In those ceremonies, students who
are interested in teaching are celebrated and
encouraged.
" We want people to know that the moment
that you make that decision to become
a teacher, you're making a decision to make
people's lives better and our world a better
place, " Lane said. " We believe we have a responsibility
to let people celebrate the folks
that are making those decisions to raise the
next generation of students, side by side with
parents in our communities. "
For the past few years, Educators Rising has
hosted a signing day at its national conference,
which brings more than 3,300 students
to Washington in the summer. And during
Teacher Appreciation Week, which takes place
the first full week of May, local chapters host
their own signing days with support from the
national organization, which provides a toolkit
of resources.
This year, the national signing day for Educators
Rising chapters was on May 7, although
other schools hold their own signing ceremonies
at other points throughout the spring.
Last month, four seniors at Baldwin County
High School in Bay Minette, Ala., signed a pledge
demonstrating their commitment to be a teacher.
It was the school's second time hosting a signing
day event, and everyone was excited.
The art teacher created the students' nameplates
for the ceremony. The media teacher
created posters with the future teachers'
names and colleges. The business teacher
made the certificates the students signed. The
science teacher designed invitations to send to
district and state officials.
" It was a school effort, " said Vickie Locke, an
English teacher at the school and the lead adviser
for the school's chapter of Future Teachers
nity in a positive way, " Locke said. " She said, 'I
want to come back to Baldwin County and be
a teacher.' That's kind of what we hope-that
they'll come back. "
Added Locke, a 28-year teaching veteran: " I
need someone to come back and take my place
who's in it for the right reasons. "
'We want alumni back'
Some districts have added incentives for students
to come back and teach in their signing
day programs.
At Colquitt County High School in Norman
Park, Ga., any senior participating in the signing
day is guaranteed a position in the district
if they graduate from college with a teaching
certificate.
" We are really working hard to grow our
own teachers, " said Daniel Chappuis, the
school's principal. " We want alumni back and
engaged in the community that they grew
up in. "
Last year, 10 students signed pledges to pursue
teaching, and a few more were expected to
do so in this month's ceremony.
Meanwhile, at Center Grove High School
in Greenwood, Ind., students are guaranteed
a first-round interview at the district once
they graduate college and earn their teaching
license. While earning their degrees,
they've got a spot as a student-teacher in
the district.
Building up homegrown talent is one
way the district is working to combat the
decline in applications for teaching positions,
said Krista Nelson, the director
of human resources and student services.
The high school offers opportunities for
students to earn college credit in education
courses, as well as a cadet teaching program
that lets students work in elementary or
middle school classrooms throughout the
school year.
Last year, 20 high school seniors committed
to the field of education during the
school's inaugural teacher signing day, which
drew a crowd of more than 100 people. This
year, the district is expecting 30 signees,
Nelson said.
" We did it to put a spotlight on those students
who have that passion to support others, "
she said. " Not only was it kids feeling
proud because there was a large group of
people cheering them on, ... there were a lot
of joyful tears from parents. "
Nelson plans to keep in touch with every
student who signs a commitment by sending
them letters twice a year to see if there's anything
the district can do to support them. So
far, she hasn't heard that anyone has changed
their minds.
Celebrating current teachers, too
The advisers of Baldwin County High School's chapter of Future Teachers of Alabama pose with
seniors who are committed to a career in education in April 2024. From left to right: Chantelle
McPherson, Diona Davis, Molly Caruthers, Jameia Brooks, Whitney Jernigan, Derriana Bishop,
Vickie Locke, and Misty Byrd.
of Alabama. " We wanted it to look just right. "
Locke encouraged the students to contact the
admissions department at their future colleges
to get some paraphernalia, like pennants and
pompoms, to decorate the signing tables, and
to wear their college T-shirts to the ceremony.
The future teachers were allowed to invite their
close school friends to the ceremony, in addition
to their family members.
All those little touches made for a special ceremony
for the future teachers, Locke said. They
also drew the interest of other students who
aren't in the Future Teachers of Alabama club.
" Some students see this and how we talk it up
and how dignified it is and how nice it is-they
like that, " Locke said, adding that some have
asked how they can join the club next year.
During the ceremony, Locke asked each student
the same question: Why do you want to be
a teacher?
This year, one student said she feels that she
could help some of the students in the area
because she relates to some of the challenges
they might be facing.
" She just wants to give back to our commu14
| EDUCATION WEEK | May 29, 2024 | www.edweek.org
"
It's a win-win:
It's honoring the
students who
are looking to be
teachers, [and]
it's honoring the
teachers who inspired
them.
TERESA MURPHY
Superintendent,
Mansfield Public Schools,
Mansfield, Mass.
School and district leaders say there's another
benefit to future teacher signing day:
showing appreciation to the current teachers
who inspired students to follow in their
footsteps.
For example, the Mansfield, Mass.,
school district held its first signing event for
prospective teachers last year, using resources
provided by the state education department.
One special touch: The students
who were honored at the event invited an
educator who inspired them to become a
teacher to watch them sign their declaration
of intent.
" It's a win-win: It's honoring the students
who are looking to be teachers, [and] it's honoring
the teachers who inspired them, " Superintendent
Teresa Murphy said.
Lane, the CEO of Educators Rising, said
he often sees students at signing ceremonies
talking about their own teachers and thanking
them for inspiring them. It's a huge source of
pride for teachers, he said.
" The signing day isn't just about the student
going into the field, " Lane said. " It's about everyone
who had a role in helping the student
get to that point in that decision having that
moment of celebration. ...
" It's a celebration of the community-that
we are a place that grows educators. And what
better story can we tell from our school environment,
that we are convincing our kids that
the work we do with them every day is important
[enough] that they can make it a part of
their lives? "
Courtesy of Baldwin County High School

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