Isabel Kaczynski and Makayla Peters, both Carbondale Community High School students and Educators Rising Club members, help children at DeSoto Grade School learn in 2019. (File photo provided.)
October 13, 2022
Media Advisory: SIU Education Day will bring about 300 future teachers to campus Oct. 17
CARBONDALE, Ill. — During SIU Education Day on Monday, Oct. 17, nearly 300 high school and community college students who are planning to study education will come to Southern Illinois University Carbondale for an action-packed morning. Reporters, photographers and video crews are welcome to cover the event, part of SIU’s response to the teacher shortage.
On campus, the students will tour Morris Library, the Recreation Center, University Housing and other facilities and enjoy a School of Education Open House. They will experience a wide variety of special hands-on activities, including, a meet and greet with faculty and staff, a panel discussion with current SIU students and faculty and games. Most of the action will take place from about 9:15 a.m. to noon in the Student Center Ballrooms, courtesy of SIU’s School of Education and the Southern Illinois Future Teachers Coalition (SIFTC).
The best opportunities for engaging videos and photos will happen between 11 a.m. and noon, when students will take part in active exploratory learning activities, including working with the infinity cube. Event organizers define it as the “ultimate fidget toy” but also a 3D printed gadget that is the result of mathematical and design principles of shapes and space. The students will be participating in a team-building challenge to create a giant version of the toy.
Students from Shawnee, Vienna, Meridian, Johnson City, Marion, Herrin, Carterville, West Frankfort, Cobden, Massac County, Joppa, Century, Dongola, Anna-Jonesboro, Carbondale and Du Quoin High Schools and John A. Logan College have registered to attend.
The SIFTC is a grant-funded partnership including SIU, the Illinois State Board of Education, John A. Logan Community College, Shawnee Community College and 15 area high schools. The SIFTC assists with creating and supporting Educators Rising Clubs for students who are seeking careers in education.
For more information about the SIU Education Day, contact Shannon Schroeder, recruitment and retention coordinator, at shannon.schroeder@siu.edu or 618-453-6350.