For the first time since January 2020, the NIU College of Education’s Educate U.S. program will this May transport select licensure candidates to the Houston Independent School District for a week of immersion in the life of a teacher. Aimee Zepeda knows
Read moreBest of both worlds: Educate U.S. takes virtual trip to Houston during pandemic
COVID-19 could not cancel the NIU College of Education’s January 2021 edition of Educate U.S. with the Houston Independent School District. Even as the pandemic did prevent travel to Texas for the 14 teacher-licensure candidates chosen to participate in the real-world learning,
Read moreHouston, we have liftoff! Two COE alums reach stars with Texas teaching awards
Jessica Dyra and Aimee Zepeda are proof of the power of positive role models. “I’ve always liked school, and as I grew up, I saw how much of an impact my teachers had on me,” says Dyra, who is from Crystal Lake.
Read moreEducate U.S. marks five years of success through eight Huskie alums in Houston
Evelyn Brand traveled to Houston in January 2017 with her eyes wide open. A junior Elementary Education major at the time, Brand’s senses crackled from “how much Houston has to offer,” from its metropolitan culture and world-class Italian and Mexican restaurants to
Read moreEducate U.S. travelers celebrate another successful trip to Texas
One by one, the names of Farias Early Childhood Center students are called as the morning attendance is taken. When there is no response – no “Here!” or “¡Aquí!”– a child stationed at the front of the classroom carefully removes that classmate’s
Read moreLone Star stars: Educate U.S. ‘teas’ up for May trip to Texas
NIU College of Education students selected for the May 2017 edition of Educate U.S. gathered last week in a Graham Hall classroom to learn more about their pending trip to the Houston Independent School District. Jennifer Johnson, the college’s director of teacher
Read moreA week in the life: NIU College of Education students gain career experience in Houston
Ashley Grazutis realized in middle school that she wanted to become a teacher when she grew up. So did Saul Amaya – and for the same reason. Both now are students in the NIU College of Education, pursuing licensure in Middle-level Teaching
Read moreEducate U.S. program gears up for another January in Houston
If Nicole Morales ever dreamed of a job other than teaching, she doesn’t remember it. “The materials have always come really easily to me. I’ve always done well in school,” says Morales, a senior Early Childhood Education major from Rockford. “Even when
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