Skip to main content
Alumnus homeNews home
Story

LSU SOE Celebrates Teacher Graduates at Pinning Ceremony

Carlin Dougherty | Thu, Jul 27, 2023

July 27, 2023

BATON ROUGE, LA – On May 16, 2023, the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education held its very first Pinning Ceremony for teacher graduates. Developed by Margaret Piccoli, PhD, Coordinator of the Office of Professional Experiences, The Pinning Ceremony began this year, not only to welcome graduates into the teaching profession, but also to recognize their achievements and hard work during residency. At the beginning of the ceremony, Dr. Laura Choate, Director of the School of Education, honored the graduates and welcomed them into the profession. During the closing remarks, Em Cooper, Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Education for the Louisiana Department of Education, provided a personal story of her experience as a teacher to highlight the meaningful impact a teacher makes on their students’ lives. Cooper shared, "Louisiana is making great gains in education. You are needed in this profession and you are in the position to make an incredible impact in the lives of so many students." Students were presented with the Owl of Athena pin, which symbolizes the importance of education and its unyielding benefits. After the ceremony, students enjoyed refreshments, took photos, and wrote down advice for our future teacher candidates:

What advice do our graduates have for future teacher candidates?

"Be confident. Do silly things with the kids when you get the chance. They will remember that."

"Remember why you do this & believe you can."

"Relationship building with your students is step number 1."

"Ask other senior teachers for help."

"Pour into your kids and they will pour into you! They give you all the reason to keep going!"

Margaret Piccoli, PhD, Coordinator of the Office of Professional Experiences, said, “The teaching residency is a rigorous training where the students eventually assume the full responsibilities of their mentor teacher as well as complete residency assignments and performance observations. This ceremony was our small gesture to honor our students and the pivotal role they will hold in our community as educators. After the ceremony, both students and parents expressed their gratitude for the ceremony. I sincerely hope it becomes a School of Education tradition for years to come.” For the full photo gallery, click here.

About Lutrill and Pearl Payne LSU School of Education (SOE) 
A school of the College of Human Sciences & Education, SOE is comprised of a diverse array of 3 undergraduate programs (early childhood, elementary, and dually certified special education/elementary education), 3 graduate certificates, 17 master’s degree program areas, 9 EdS certificate areas, and 11 PhD specialization areas. We focus not only on preparing highly qualified Birth-Grade 12 teachers but also in preparing educational leaders, curriculum studies scholars, educational technology experts, applied researchers, higher education professionals, school counselors, and clinical mental health counselors. In other words, we offer scholarly expertise regarding pressing educational and wellness issues across the entire lifespan. Visit the LSU Lutrill and Pearl Payne School of Education.
 
About LSU College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) 
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, the School of Library & Information Science, the School of Social Work, and the University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs, 18 graduate programs, and 7 online graduate degree and/or certificate programs, enrolling more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,120 graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed to improving quality of life across the lifespan. Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education. 

Click here for more stories!