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New Teacher Send-off

New Teacher Send-off urges graduates to ‘just remember why you’re doing it’

December 15, 2025 Mark McGowan Alumni, CI, enewsletter, SEED, Student Success

Graham Davis felt ready to become a teacher. His NIU College of Education curriculum. His clinicals. His student-teaching. He was prepared. But then came job interviews, followed by an unexpected thought: “I don’t know what I’m doing.” “After that third interview, I

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New Teacher Send-off urges graduates to believe ‘that every student can learn’

May 19, 2025 Mark McGowan Alumni, CI, enewsletter, SEED, Student Success

For the NIU College of Education’s spring group of educator licensure graduates, part of their professional mission was made clear May 9 during the New Teacher Send-off. Rachael Mahmood, the 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year and a 2016 alumna of the

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Rachael Mahmood tells new graduates to know their ‘why’ stories for teaching

December 15, 2024 Mark McGowan Alumni, enewsletter

For December graduates of the college’s educator licensure programs about to embark on their classroom careers, the question was direct. What type of teachers will they become? It was something Rachael Mahmood, the 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year and a 2016

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Alumna Dominique Yackley inspires graduates at New Teacher Send-off

May 14, 2024 Mark McGowan CI, enewsletter, KNPE, SEED

As a new group of NIU College of Education licensure majors prepared to graduate and become professionals in the classroom, a seasoned veteran advised them to pack well for the journey ahead. Their luggage, said Dominique Yackley, must include “exuberance.” “If you

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Photo Gallery: New Teacher Send-off

May 14, 2023 Mark McGowan CI, enewsletter, SEED

The NIU College of Education recognized spring graduates of licensure programs May 12 during the New Teacher Send-off event in Cavan Auditorium. NIU alumna Kimberly Radostits, the 2022 Illinois Teacher of the Year and a 2023 National Teacher of the Year finalist,

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Photos: New Teacher Send-off

December 16, 2022 Mark McGowan CI, enewsletter, KNPE, SEED

The NIU College of Education recognized December graduates of licensure programs Dec. 9 during the New Teacher Send-off event in Cavan Auditorium. Evadne Bowlin, who earned her B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education in 2020, delivered the keynote address. “With all the lessons and

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