Center for Future Educators

Hello CFE Community. Please read the most recent communication from the desk of the Executive Director. tinyurl.com/mpyesumm

And just like that, the 2024 Future Educators Academy comes to an end! Families were invited to a farewell breakfast, where campers got to share part of their capstone portfolios. Campers were awarded their certificates, and four students were recognized for their outstanding growth and achievements over the past week:
Blooming Flower: Jazmin
Leadership: Nataly
Most Improved: Adib
MVP: Mark

Thank you to all the presenters who provided students with engaging activities that allowed them to further develop their teacher skills. Thank you to our counselors for supporting campers through growing pains and serving as great examples of aspiring educators at the college level. Last but not least, thank you teachers for sharing this opportunity with your students and encouraging them through the application process! 💛

Campers, we hope you stay in touch with each other and cheer each other on as you continue pursuing your personal, academic, and professional goals! Upwards and onwards! 💫

Day 7! Campers started off the day with a seminar on creating a culturally responsive curriculum, led by TCNJ'S education librarian Ewa Dziedzic-Elliott. Students then identified and explored different teacher-leader styles with 2014 NJSTOY Kathy Assini. The last full day of camp ended with finalizing and presenting their capstone portfolios! Congrats campers, you made it!!

Soaring kites! 🪁

Part III 📸❤️

Part II 📸❤️

Day Six of the FEA! Today was our teaching day!! Campers headed back to Slackwood Elementary School to teach STEAM lessons about flying kites. They all worked so hard with their group members to perfect their lessons and ensure a successful presentation. All of the elementary school students were so excited to build and decorate their kites, and were even more delighted to go outside and get to run around and fly them. After the lessons, our campers debriefed with the teachers about their experiences and completed their reflections with Diane Cummins, 2004 NJ State Teacher of the Year.

Day Five of the FEA! Campers started off the day with an inspiring workshop from TJ Belasco . TJ is the 2020 Cape May County Teacher of the Year, and a true pioneer in Social and Emotional Learning. As he discussed prioritizing a proactive peaceful classroom, he shared many helpful classroom management strategies. Next, TCNJ admissions came for a short workshop on the college application process, and students were able to get their burning questions about the process answered. Finally, NJ STOY 2024 Joe Nappi was our final presenter of the day and he talked about Americans’ attitudes towards immigration. In cultivating the development of anti-bias aspiring educators, Mr. Nappi led an open conversation about stereotyping, prejudice, and implicit bias.

Grounds for Sculpture 📍Field Trip Day!

Slackwood Elementary: Part II 🤓

Day Four of the FEA! Campers headed over to Slackwood Elementary School to observe classes and prepare for their STEAM lessons on Thursday. Getting to know their students better was a large part of their learning today! Working with young multilingual learners, our campers will devise inclusive lessons so that all of their students can participate and be engaged. We are so excited to see all their amazing lesson plans come to life!

Day THREE of the FEA! 🤗 Our campers started off the day with Samantha Shane-Education Academy Instructor from Morris County Technical School-who led them through a workshop about classroom management strategies. They not only observed and reflected on video examples, but they also analyzed elements of a positive classroom culture. Then, TCNJ Roscoe Educators came to visit and helped campers learn about how this group on campus supports first generation students interested in being educators. Campers enjoyed playing with playdoh and shaping it into something that impacted their journey to education. Finally, Erin Lichtenwalner, the Director of Instruction, Programs, and Services from Atlantic County, came to speak to students about disability and special education. Students unpacked myths and assumptions about disabled students, ultimately learning how to advocate for disability rights and better understand intersectional identities.