Education Department Newsletter - May 2023

As we wrap up the end of the academic year, I couldn’t possibly be prouder of the ways in which our department has collaborated internally and externally to support our K-12 partners. While it may not always seem like it as you move through the semester completing assignments, studying for tests and working to gather your field hours, you individually and our college as a whole play an important role in supporting the wider educational community. Over the course of this year we accomplished many things including:

• Hosting 8 virtual professional developments attended by a total of more than 80 K-12 professionals.
• Welcoming more than 200 8th grade students from Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School for a campus visit.
• Providing thousands of hours of fieldwork in which you supported students’ personal and academic growth in the classroom and through extracurricular activities.
• Collaborating with departments across campus to foster student engagement in Math and Literature through the annual Math Triathlon and Young Authors Festival.

On Monday, May 1st, the Education Unit hosted the Education Commissioning & Celebration to honor our most recent program completers. Education faculty, student supervisors, cooperating teachers, and many family members came together to celebrate the accomplishments of each our education program completers in a special ceremony and celebration.

We are so proud of these students and look forward to learning about the impact they will have within their school districts, communities, and the students they will serve. Congratulations to all on behalf of the Education unit.

The Education Department was delighted to host the Young Authors Reception & Festival on April 25 & 26. We were thrilled to bring author Laura Martin to campus. She is our very first young author participant who became an adult author! Laura delivered multiple workshops to the students, and graciously signed books for the Trinity community. The event welcomed school partners, students, families, and volunteers to Trinity campus. Over the course of 2 days, we were honored to collaborate with:

• 14 schools (Illinois & Indiana)
• 270+ elementary students
• 36 AMAZING Trinity student leaders
• 1 high school student leader
• 34 adult helpers
• 7 committee members

And through these collaborations, we hope to inspire the next era of Trinity students and future authors.