Samford University’s Orlean Beeson School of Education hosted its third annual Lamp of Learning Ceremony on Monday, August 27. The event marks the official induction of teacher education candidates into their respective majors and their beginning of professional field experiences. 52 teacher education candidates received their clinical badge at the event. The badge symbolizes the candidate’s readiness to enter field placements and lead lessons within the classrooms where they will be placed.
Candidates represented the Early Childhood, Special Education, Elementary, Elementary Collaborative (ESEC) program; Secondary Education program; and the Elementary Education with a concentration in Christian Missions program.
The Lamp of Learning event is designed to encourage candidates entering their clinical placements to pursue their calling without hindrance. Candidates are challenged to radiate their light and the love of Christ to those around them.
2009 ESEC graduate and this year’s Alabama Elementary Teacher of the Year, Meghan Allen encouraged the candidates to trust in the Lord’s plan because while each of their journeys may look different, God is ordaining their steps.
“Fully commit to your studies and your practice as an educator because your profession matters; therefore, how you invest in your studies now matters,” said Allen. “Every minute with a student is critical. Every lesson is important. We are preparing our students for life. What we do day in and day out is fiercely important.”
“As teachers, we have the opportunity to empower students to reach their full potential,” said Orlean Beeson School of Education interim dean, Bonnie Lee Rabe. “Our goal is to prepare candidates academically, but to also help them recognize the power of influence they can have as a teacher.”
This fall, candidates will be placed in a classroom with a cooperating teacher who will aid them in developing their skills and expose them to tangible experiences. The semester-long placement allows candidates to practice creating and implementing lesson plans, but it also provides an opportunity for candidates to develop strong relationships with students and staff members.
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About Samford University – Samford University is a premier nationally ranked private university deeply rooted in its Christian mission. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th oldest institution of higher education in the United States. U.S. News & World Report ranks Samford 4th among regional universities in the South. Samford enrolls 5,619 students from 44 states, the District of Columbia and 29 other countries in its 10 academic units: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy, and public health. Samford also fields 17 NCAA Division I teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference.
