College of Education hosts 19th annual Celebration of Teaching

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

(April 7, 2009  Stillwater, OK) – More than 300 teachers, future teachers and others uniquely dedicated to education attended the Oklahoma State University College of Education’s 19th annual Celebration of Teaching in the Student Union on April 6, 2009.  
 
National Teacher of the Year Michael Geisen of Oregon and Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Heather Sparks were featured speakers.  As the keynote speaker, Geisen shared his innovative approach to teaching that includes a community focus and emphasis on creativity. Sparks, who teaches math at Taft Middle School in Oklahoma City, provided the luncheon address, sharing her “Big 12” skills for teachers and how they lead to success and impact in the classroom and in life.
 
Breakout sessions designed to demonstrate creative teaching techniques, provided opportunities for panel discussion, information about College of Education programs and tips for job interviews.  Senior elementary education candidates’ poster presentations were available for viewing throughout the day.
                
Many Oklahoma District Teacher of the Year finalists, nationally-board certified classroom teachers, OSU cooperating teachers and Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education ACE and LEAP Teachers, along with OSU teacher education students and high school students interested in the teaching profession, participated in the day’s activities.  Special guests included Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sandy Garrett. OSU President Burns Hargis gave a special welcome at the luncheon and Stan Clark, President of Stan Clark Companies and Eskimo Joe’s unveiled the third annual Eskimo Joe’s teacher shirt.
 
The Celebration is sponsored by the OSU College of Education and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Minority Teacher Recruitment Center. The College of Education Associates also support the event.

College of Education and Eskimo Joe’s Partner for Third Edition of Teacher Shirt

For the third straight year the Oklahoma State University College of Education (COE) has partnered with Eskimo Joe’s to create a shirt to celebrate teachers.  Unveiled on April 6 at the College’s annual Celebration of Teaching event, the 2009 shirt is Carolina blue and features the slogan, “Teachers Encourage, Inspire and Enlighten” on the front and “Start a Wave, Make a Difference: Teachers Power the Wave of Discovery” on the back.
 
A percentage of the proceeds from each shirt sold are donated to the COE and the Stillwater Public Education Foundation (SPEF). To date, shirts sales have generated more than $15,000 to endow a scholarship for a future teacher at OSU. In addition, SPEF has also received more than $15,000 to support a number of projects. 
 
The new shirt can be purchased at the Eskimo Joe’s Clothes World Headquarters, located at 501 W. Elm Street in Stillwater, or at store locations at Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City and Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa. Orders also can be placed online at www.eskimojoes.com or by calling 1-800-256-JOES.