LATROBE, PA—The Saint Vincent College Department of Education held the Teach the Future: Engaging our Future Teachers Conference on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Local high school students who have dreams of one day becoming teachers were invited to the event, which consisted of a keynote speaker and three concurrent breakout sessions on topics about creative teaching and learning.
Associate professor of education Dr. Tracy McNelly coordinated the conference. “It is our way to not only recruit students to come to SVC, but to also help inspire future teachers to help close the nationwide shortage in teachers entering the field,” she remarked.
The breakout sessions included testimony and guidance from various speakers on all stages of becoming a teacher and prospering as one¾from the college application process to classroom management.
The event featured 2022 PA Teacher of the Year, Elizabeth Raff as the Keynote Speaker.
Elizabeth Raff
Elizabeth Raff is a passionate and enthusiastic educator who sparks excitement and creativity in her classroom. She propels students to be lifelong learners by using unique classroom engagement strategies. Most recently, Elizabeth was named the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. In her role, she travels the state, meets and collaborates with other educators, and participates in the 2023 national teacher of the year cohort. As part of her Teacher of the Year duties, she currently serves as the Elementary Learning Facilitator in the Penn Manor School District. She received her Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction from Penn State University and currently resides in Lancaster, PA with her husband and two children.
-David Collins, English major, of Oakmont
PHOTO: Elizabeth Raff