Newest Purdue teaching graduates to be honored with pinning ceremony

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s newest graduates in teacher education will participate in a pinning ceremony to welcome them into the teaching profession at 11 a.m. Friday (May 10) in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse.

The event is hosted by Purdue’s College of Education.

The college has over 200 teacher education graduates for 2018-19, and 61 will participate in the event. Each will receive a lapel pin and a copy of the “Teacher’s Creed,” which they recite to conclude the program. The “Teacher's Creed” states, in part, “I am a teacher. I change the world one student at a time.”

“We are delighted to honor our graduating education professionals, who are well-prepared for the challenging and rewarding field of teaching,” said Nancy Marchand-Martella, the Suzi and Dale Gallagher Dean of Education at Purdue. “We recognize their years of hard work and welcome them into the family of Purdue teacher education alumni.”

Keynote speaker for this year's ceremony is alumnus Jeff Butts, superintendent of Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township in Indianapolis. Butts was named the 2019 Indiana Superintendent of the Year by the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents and was also runner-up for the national superintendent of the year.

Purdue's College of Education meets the challenges of educating 21st century learners by discovering what works in education. The college prepares highly qualified educators and conducts research that informs how teachers teach and students learn. With a focus on integrated P-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and a commitment to social justice and diversity, graduates are prepared to be leaders in education, business and society.

Media contact: Brian L. Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu 

Writer: Tonya Agnew, 765-490-4709, tragnew@purdue.edu 

Source: Nancy Marchand-Martella, 765-494-2336,  nmarchand-martella@purdue.edu