“The community aspect of our program is so important,” says CEA Aspiring Educators Program Chair Hannah Spinner on the latest episode of CEA’s podcast. “We’ve all heard, ‘Oh, I could never be a teacher,’ ‘Good luck,’ and similar, but when you’re in an environment where you feel supported by active members, retired members, and CEA governance, you’re able to build connections that empower you to do more, and I think that’s a critical aspect of what our program offers to students.”
The CEA AEP supports students as they navigate their teacher preparation programs and centers on professional development, advocacy, community service, and social and racial justice and includes a wide variety of networking and leadership opportunities.
Spinner, a UConn master’s degree student, and Cole Brown, a sophomore at Southern and president of his university’s AEP chapter, joined CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey to talk about the AEP’s recent fall kickoff event and other community service, advocacy, and professional learning opportunities planned for the upcoming year.
“You’re the next generation of change makers for public education,” Dias told the aspiring educators. “Your input and perspective make our organization a lot more vibrant and interesting.”
Find out more about the CEA Aspiring Educators Program, including how to join.
Listen to the full episode below, or wherever you get your podcasts.
