Spring 2024 Future Teacher Conference

The Watson College was pleased to welcome 125 students from 15 area schools to the Spring 2024 Future Teacher Conference on March 15. Future Teacher events, held each semester, give high school and community college students an opportunity to visit campus and learn more about education programs at Watson.

“We are excited to have so much interest from our partnership schools in our Future Teacher Conference events ,” said WCE Recruiter Dean Heath. “We had a full house at our event in March and it was a great day. I’d like to thank the many teachers and Watson faculty, staff and students who helped to make it a success.”

The full-day conference featured a series of workshops and presentations by faculty members in WCE’s Elementary, Middle Grades, Secondary, Special Education, Music and Healthful Living & Fitness Education programs; a tour of the Ed Lab and Curriculum Materials Center; and information sessions covering a range of topics including AI in the classroom, using Canva to design presentations and social media graphics, and ways college students can get involved and stay connected.

While on campus, students also enjoyed a complimentary lunch at The Shore and a panel discussion with Watson students Marissa Caffey, Avery Carter, Abigail Snyder and Sydney Watson.

Participants said they learned a lot, enjoyed the hands-on workshops and liked having an opportunity to interact with Watson College faculty and students from other schools:

“What I liked about this session is that I got a hands-on view of Watson and got to learn more about it. I learned about the places at UNCW, some of the activities that go on and how to manage my money when applying. I enjoyed this session cause we didn't have to sit quietly the whole time we were able to give feedback.”

“The food was good, the staff was nice, we got hands on experience, and it was fun.”

“I really enjoyed the experience and the opportunity. Thank you so much for helping me in my decision to become a teacher, I have applied to UNCW and I hope that it becomes one of my options for when I have to come to my final decision on which college to pick!”

Future Teacher Conference events are held each semester, and plans are currently underway to hold two conference events in Fall 2024. High schools, community colleges and home school groups that would like to bring students to UNCW’s Watson College to learn about education as a career are invited to contact Dean Heath at heatht@uncw.edu.