Brownwood News – Howard Payne University’s School of Education recently recognized 19 graduating seniors at the Clinical Teacher Reception, held to honor the completion of their work in the school’s Educator Preparation Program.
Photo at top: Teachers from the area light candles held by HPU students as part of the recent Clinical Teacher Reception held on the HPU campus.
HPU students honored at the ceremony were Katie Ash, a technology applications major from Brownwood; Kelsy Bellah, an English/language arts/reading major from Brownwood; Sierra Bennett, an elementary education major from Tuscola; Erin Buergner, a math education major from Austin; Dorian Buitron, a music education major from Floresville; Kristin Cunningham, a physical education major from Carrollton; Rachel Henry, an elementary education major from Malakoff; Carissa Higbee, a music education major from Newark; Daniel Lemus, a physical education major from Salado; Corey Martinez, a physical education major from Bangs; Cassandra Mendez, a math education major from Brownwood; Abigail Miller, an elementary education major from Belton; Kinsey Nall, an elementary education major from Rising Star; Judy Pack, a music education major from Fort Worth; Matthew Parks, a physical education major from Georgetown; Tandi Patton, an elementary education major from Brownwood; Micah Smith, an elementary education major from San Antonio; Andrew Stevenson, a social studies composite major from Brownwood; and Fred Zavala, an English/language arts/reading major from McKinney.
Jeremy Bartley, pre-K teacher at the Jane Long Early Childhood Center in Abilene, served as the guest speaker for the event. Bartley earned two degrees from HPU: the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 2014 and the Master of Education in Instructional Leadership in 2018.
Additional program participants included Dr. Kylah Clark-Goff, dean of the School of Education and professor of education; Lauren Kirk, instructor of education; Susan Sharp, teacher certification officer; and Jill Underwood, instructor of education. Other representatives of the School of Education in attendance were Amy Briley, administrative assistant, and Dr. Jane Metty-Samons, associate professor of education.
The reception concluded with a candle-lighting ceremony. Area teachers, in whose classrooms the HPU students served as student teachers, lit candles held by the students, symbolizing the transfer of knowledge and the carrying forward of that knowledge into classrooms where these future teachers will serve.
“We are so proud of these students who have worked diligently to learn how to be the teachers of tomorrow,” said Dr. Kylah Clark-Goff, dean of the School of Education. “Likewise, we are greatly indebted to teachers from Bangs, Brownwood and Early who have welcomed them into their classrooms, modeled great teaching and provided a venue in which the students could grow and develop as educators.”
Pictured above: HPU students recognized at the Clinical Teacher Reception are, front row from left, Abigail Miller, Cassandra Mendez, Carissa Cromer, Kinsey Nall and Judy Pack; middle row from left, Tandi Patton, Sierra Bennett, Rachel Henry, Dorian Buitron, Erin Buergner and Fred Zavala; and, back row from left, Corey Martinez, Matthew Parks, Kelsy Bellah, Kristen Cunningham, Andrew Stevenson, Katie Ash, Daniel Lemus and Micah Smith.
