Gigi Churn, Alexa Garcia, Elizabeth Miller, Caroline Tomas, and Gracen Van Der Swaagh were among 70 attendees at the Preservice Teachers’ Conference held by the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators in Connecticut at Manchester High School. There, they attended workshops by highly skilled coaches, as well as panel discussions in which first-year teachers and student teachers shared their experiences.
Tomas, a first-year elementary education major, walked away from the AMTEC conference as a fan of the initiative who highly recommends it for other soon-to-be teachers. “There were quite a number of very sound classroom management strategies that I learned which are effective in making the overall learning environment a very positive one,” she said.
“I love seeing UHart students engage with other future teachers,” said AMTEC President Jillian Cavanna, who is an associate professor of elementary education, STEM, and innovation at UHart’s College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions. “The atmosphere allowed students to develop their identities as teachers—to truly see themselves as professionals.”
Jillian Cavanna, AMTEC President, Associate Professor of Elementary Education, STEM, and Innovation at UHart’s College of Education, Nursing and Health ProfessionsThe atmosphere allowed students to develop their identities as teachers—to truly see themselves as professionals.
AMTEC’s first conference was held online during the COVID pandemic, but since then the organization has been able to bring together more than five dozen preservice teachers and teacher educators from across the state each year.
“Teaching is a profession in which collaboration and interaction with colleagues is a critical function,” Cavanna said. “This conference was designed to set the stage for these kinds of professional interactions.”
“I met many people who share my passion for teaching, and a desire to learn more ways to improve teaching strategies,” added Garcia, a third-year integrated elementary and special education student. “One of the most important things I learned was just how essential it is for teachers to continue to explore new ways to provide their students with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful. That’s what I plan to do.”