Meet your future colleagues!
At their first statewide meeting of the school year, student leaders of CEA’s Aspiring Educators program came together to self-reflect, get to know each other, and share what their campus chapters have been up to since the start of the fall semester.
The meeting, held October 21 at CEA’s Hartford office, was a chance for pre-service teachers in Connecticut’s colleges and universities to connect with peers, engage in professional development, and learn more about how CEA can support them.
A recruitment event held the following weekend at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield brought together current and future chapter members for icebreaker activities, lunch, and a fall favorite: the corn maze.
“Our Aspiring Educators are so important,” says CEA Education Issues Specialist Elizabeth Sked, who coordinates the program at the statewide level. Sked, a New London instructional coach, says, “We’ve all seen how the teacher shortage has impacted us and our students. Through our Aspiring Educators program, we’re working to recruit talented individuals into the profession, develop them, and provide the support they need right from the start.”
CEA’s Aspiring Educators program has chapters at UConn, Quinnipiac, and all four universities within the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and is expanding this year to include Mitchell College and the University of Saint Joseph.
CEA Aspiring Educators Chair Katelyn Cummings, a senior at Central Connecticut State University, says, “Being part of the Aspiring Educators Program has benefited me in so many ways. I’ve had many professional development and networking opportunities and have been able to develop my leadership skills all before I enter my own classroom. I love the opportunities to collaborate with fellow students and future colleagues.”
In addition to gaining career guidance and social connections, Aspiring Educators engage in community outreach activities throughout the year, including tutoring, mentoring, planning and conducting after-school activities, hosting campus workshops, and coordinating food, clothing, and school supply drives. This coming Saturday, November 5, they will undertake a beautification project 
with a focus on mindfulness at Bridgeport’s Read School. Connecticut college or university students who are enrolled in an on-campus or online teacher preparation program and interested in learning more about CEA Aspiring Educators, attending Saturday’s event, or starting their own local chapter are encouraged to contact elizabeths@cea.org.
CEA Aspiring Educators are members (and receive the benefits) of the Connecticut Education Association, the National Education Association, and the NEASP and are recognized at CEA’s annual Apple Banquet. To sponsor a student, visit cea.org/aspiring-educators/.
