More than 400 students from high schools around the region will be attend SIU’s 2025 Education Day on Oct. 21. (SIU Carbondale photo)
October 16, 2025
SIU’s 2025 Education Day will bring hundreds of high school students to campus
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Nearly 400 high school students planning to study education will enjoy a day filled with more than 40 interactive activities and informative sessions as Southern Illinois University Carbondale hosts its annual Education Day celebration on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
The all-day event at the Student Center is one component of SIU’s multifaceted response to the ongoing teacher shortage.
Participating teens from schools throughout the region will enjoy a variety of fun, educational hands-on sessions covering a wide range of topics, including “Beyond Four Walls: Place-Based Service-Learning Approaches in Outdoor Education,” “From Classroom to Community,” “Read a Story, Make a Book…,” “Incorporating Nature Study in Pre-K and Early Elementary Classrooms,” and “Bring the Night Sky Into Your Classroom.” Each student will get to choose three sessions to attend.
SIU Education Day 2025 will begin with a keynote presentation by Victoria Groves-Scott, dean of the School of Education. At midday, students will participate in an open-house-style resource fair, during which more than 30 SIU departments, units and education-focused organizations will share information about themselves and chat with students.
Media Advisory
Reporters, photographers and video crews are invited to cover Education Day 2025, which begins with a welcome by School of Education Dean Victoria Groves-Scott at 9 a.m. in the Student Center Ballroom and concludes at 2 p.m. Some of the most opportune times to obtain videos, photos and stories are during the kickoff keynote presentation and during the resource fair, set for 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. in the International Lounge on the second floor of the Student Center.
For more information about SIU Education Day, contact Maeve Kirk, recruitment and retention coordinator, at maeve.kirk@siu.edu or 618-453-6350.
Educating teachers of tomorrow
Students from Anna-Jonesboro, Carbondale, Carrier Mills-Stonefort, Carterville, Cobden, Crab Orchard, Du Quoin, Egyptian, Gallatin County, Goreville, Hardin County, Harrisburg, Herrin, Johnston City, Marion, Massac, Meridian, Pinckneyville, Pope County, Shawnee, Trico, Vienna and West Frankfort high schools have already registered to attend.
SIU’s School of Education and the Southern Illinois Future Teachers Coalition (SIFTC) are partnering to sponsor SIU Education Day. SIFTC is a grant-funded partnership including SIU, the Illinois State Board of Education, John A. Logan College, Shawnee Community College and 20 Southern Illinois high schools. SIFTC has been instrumental as well in creating and supporting Educators Rising clubs in participating high schools, which provide information, activities and support for students who are interested in pursuing careers in the field of education.