UW-River Falls hosts 184 high school students for Future Educator Day

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls hosted 184 high school students interested in careers in education Friday, Nov. 6, during Future Educator Day, presented by UWRF's College of Education, Business and Allied Health (CEBAH). The students came from 11 high schools across western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota.

The students attended information sessions and Q&As covering areas including elementary and early childhood education, secondary education subject areas, communication sciences and disorders, social work and student life at UWRF. They also took campus tours and had the opportunity to learn about student clubs.

Wisconsin continues to face a teacher shortage. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction reported districts could not find qualified individuals to fill more than 3,800 positions in the 2023-24 school year. CEBAH Associate Dean Stacy Furness said the goal of the day is to help address this shortfall.

"The purpose of Future Educator Day is to inspire students to explore the possibilities and lasting impact of a career in education," Furness said. "We will always need passionate, dedicated, and inspiring educators who are committed to making a difference in the lives of others. Our hope is that Future Educator Day will help students recognize the value and significance of the education profession, see themselves as future educators and consider how they too can make a meaningful difference in the lives of future generations."

In Q&A sessions, current UWRF students majoring in education and other fields shared their experiences.

"UWRF preps you in such an amazing way to feel prepared in the schools," said Carly Verbaten, a senior health and physical education major from Stanley. "My first year, three to four weeks into school, I was already out in the schools observing. And it's awesome because you can make sure that it's what you want to do."

Questions from the high school students ranged from how to deal with difficult students and how to figure out what grade they'd like to teach to how to find a roommate and how college classes are different from high school.

Verbaten said she appreciates the opportunity to pursue her interests.

"I'm here learning exactly what I want to learn and what I'm passionate about," she said. "I'm taking classes that are going to impact my future."

Another student asked what sets UWRF's program apart. Catherine Brock, a junior elementary education major from Wisconsin Rapids, said she appreciates UWRF's reputation for producing good teachers.

"At pretty much every school I've been to, I have heard feedback from the teachers themselves about how well UWRF prepares their students to teach," Brock said. "That was really comforting to me and it felt like I was getting the education I was paying for. And the professors are great. They want to see you succeed."

Students attending the event could also explore other majors within CEBAH.

Cassidy Tomford, a senior from Lake City, Minnesota, is interested in a career in communication sciences and wanted a closer look at UWRF's majors.

"I liked that we got to see the actual rooms like the Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic and see where we would actually be working," she said.

Future Educator Day is consistently one of UWRF's most successful recruiting events, Furness said.

Photo: High School students attend the opening session of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Future Educator Day Nov. 6. 184 students attended the event, which included information sessions and Q&As covering elementary and early childhood education, secondary education subject areas, communication sciences and disorders, social work and student life at UWRF. Contributed photo.