PULASKI, Tenn. — Six University of Tennessee Southern education students represented the university at the Student Tennessee Education Association (STEA) Spring Conference in Nashville, April 10-11, joining peers from across the state for a weekend of professional development and collaboration. Accompanied by Dr. Lisa Fowler, program coordinator of elementary education and assistant professor, the group participated in conference sessions and networking opportunities.
“It is inspiring to work with this group of students, who bring renewed energy to our chapter and demonstrated strong leadership at the conference,” Fowler said. “They represented UT Southern well and are thoughtful, driven and deeply committed to the profession.”
Students gained practical tools and insights to support their transition from teacher candidates to classroom professionals, including strategies for navigating their first year in the classroom, building effective management practices and maintaining balance in a demanding career. The experience also provided opportunities to connect with peers and mentors from across Tennessee. STEA chapters from the University of Tennessee at Martin and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, were also in attendance.
“The weekend was full of crucial lessons and informative pieces about education that will be so helpful in our careers,” said UT Southern STEA chapter president Abby Vincent. “We are so grateful to STEA for hosting us.”
The Student Tennessee Education Association is a preprofessional organization for aspiring educators and is affiliated with the Tennessee Education Association and the National Education Association. The organization serves more than 45,000 members nationally across more than 1,100 campuses, including more than 2,200 members at 42 campuses across Tennessee.
Photo:
Pictured left to right: Tori Beth Fox, Dr. Lisa Fowler, Chloe Moore, Abby Vincent, Danica Bridgers, Maggie White, and Lillie Newton.