UMaine COEHD Pinning and Recognition Ceremony celebrates preservice teachers, the teaching profession

Nearly 70 students from the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development who achieved teacher candidacy in the past year were celebrated at the college’s third annual Pinning and Recognition Ceremony on Friday.

“We started this tradition with a simple goal in mind: To recognize our students who have reached a key milestone in their professional development,” said Justin Dimmel, associate dean for academics and student engagement. “Teachers transform the lives of their students, and have a positive impact on their schools, organizations and communities every single day. As the largest educator preparation and training program in the state, the College of Education and Human Development is the standard bearer for producing high-caliber teachers, ready to step into classrooms as soon as they graduate.”

To become teacher candidates, UMaine education students complete a series of five foundational courses that explore teaching as a profession and provide training in several core skills needed to become highly-effective educators. They also take part in field placements in schools and other educational settings, including five full days (about 30 hours) of classroom observation, and produce a portfolio that includes reflections on those experiences. 

The classroom observation is one of several opportunities the university’s education majors have to work directly with PreK-12 teachers and students during their program of study. After achieving teacher candidacy, these students continue to take academically-demanding coursework while engaging in field experiences — all of which helps prepare them for student teaching, and ultimately, to become fully-certified teachers.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Joan Ferrini-Mundy, president of the University of Maine and its regional campus the University of Maine at Machias, as well as vice chancellor for research and innovation for the University of Maine System, and Mike Muir, principal of Maranacook Community Middle School in Readfield, Maine.

Muir, who accepted the college’s Robert A. Cobb Award for Extraordinary Service at the ceremony, earned his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from UMaine. He spoke of his experiences over four decades working in schools, and encouraged the teacher candidates to embrace the journey to come.

“Your degree is going to unlock doors, unlock opportunities, just as my UMaine degree opened doors and opportunities for me,” said Muir. “Whether your journey is bold or subtle, you will have the potential to make an enormous impact on the lives of your students. No matter which path you choose, think about what kind of adventure you want to have and where you want to leave your mark.”

This year’s ceremony included a new tradition, as four current student teachers spoke to the teacher candidates. The student teachers — Kinesiology and Physical Education (Health and Physical Education) majors Jillian Cote and Samantha Ciardiello, Secondary Education (English) major Sean McGibbon, and Elementary Education (Honors College) major Hunter Towne — congratulated their fellow students on the achievement and offered them words of encouragement and advice as they embark on the next steps in their professional development.

You can read about two of the teacher candidates recognized at the ceremony online.

Contact: Casey Kelly, casey.kelly@maine.edu