Future educators commit to teaching at Center Grove at teacher signing

Twenty-seven Center Grove High Students committed to becoming future educators at Center Grove Schools Wednesday night.

Center Grove Community School Corporation this week held a signing ceremony where future education students sign a ceremonious contract, which will entitle them to student teaching positions and first-round interviews when positions become available, after their requirements are met.

Each student invited an influential educator and their families to join them in the signing ceremony. The second annual Future Educator Signing Day took place Wednesday during National Teacher Appreciation Week.

Interim Superintendent Bill Long welcomed the students with a story about an educator who changed his life — his dad. His father was a World War II Veteran and attended Ball State Teachers College after the war. He spent 19 out of 36 years as a school superintendent, Long recalled.

“The thing that really sticks in my mind the most is how my dad treated every single person that he came across, whether it was the custodian, or it was the superintendent or a school board member, he was always kind. He always gave them the attention that they needed,” Long said. “He knew their names, and he knew their everything about their family. And so when I first started student teaching, he said, make sure you do that you’ll be successful if you keep that in mind.”

The students who attended the ceremony have committed to study education at Butler University, Franklin College, Ball State University, University of Saint Francis, Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College Indiana University, Marion University, Indiana Wesleyan and Oklahoma State University.

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Courtney Ness, 2023 Center Grove Teacher of the Year gave the students advice on being a teacher and reminding them what an “incredible moment” that they were celebrating. Her first piece of advice to students is to make connections and build relationships in their classrooms.

Showing students a sense of belonging should be a priority in the classroom daily, she said. While it may take time in the beginning, it pays off in the long run. Ness told students to “go slow to go fast” and always look for greatness in each student who walks through their door.

“We wear so many hats. But being an educator is rewarding. There is a reason you are looking to pursue a degree in education and make a monumental impact on so many children’s lives,” Ness said. “Please remember these things in your amazing moments and on your hardest days in the years to come: You are strong, you are important. You are caring and patient. You inspire people through your amazing work. You make a positive impact on so many people’s lives. Your actions are meaningful. You will make it through the hard times and come back stronger on the other end, your life has great meaning, you should be proud, you are more than enough, you are a gift to so many children’s lives and you make everyone better.”

Senior Shelby Henry, who plans to study elementary or secondary education at IU, has always been fascinated by her teachers, she said. She would often read to her stuffed animals, pretending to be just like her own teachers.

“I decided in second grade I wanted to pursue it as a career and I’ve just stuck with it,” Henry said.

Senior Mason Golden was inspired by his elementary physical education teacher, Bernie Doyle. In seventh grade. Golden and Doyle were “catching up” and since then, Golden knew he wanted to become a teacher, he said. Doyle has been a “big inspiration” for Golden, helping him not only grow as a person, but as an athlete as well. Golden wants to help kids in the same way Doyle helped him.

“Knowing that I have the ability to change a child’s life, whether it be physically, whether it be emotionally, somewhere that I can help them grow.”

Senior Bernice Ling works with kids often through church, her family and school. Working with younger kids feels “healing” for Ling, she said.

Ling wants to become a teacher to support kids academically and socially, just as her teachers did for her, she said. Her honors teacher has been an inspiration in Ling pursuing a career in education, she said.

“There have been times where I struggled and I’ve always leaned on teachers, like my honors teacher Mrs. DeArmitt and so many other teachers,” Ling said.