ENMU student program returns

STAFF WRITER

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Professional development opportunities are in store for education students at Eastern New Mexico University.

The Omicron Upsilon Chapter of the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education was recently re-established at ENMU after a more than 20-year absence.

The Honor Society helps education students with research and making connections with public schools, according to Assistant Professor of Secondary Education Kathleen Wagner.

“One of the reasons (for bringing the chapter back) is we have fewer and fewer (students) going into education,” said Wagner. “Recognizing excellence in our teaching candidates was something I felt was very necessary.”

The organization is geared toward both undergraduate and graduate students, Wagner added.

“Our main goal is professional development in the field,” she said. “It provides an avenue for students. It’s targeted toward beginning teachers. For our undergraduate students, it would provide opportunities for faculty to work with students and involve them with research. We looked at teachers from all different areas getting involved. The organization is very strongly student led. We’re there to support and guide them.”

Chapter President and ENMU Junior Briana Pintor said the organization will help students get more involved with the teaching profession.

“I think it’ll open up the eyes of some of our students. Some people may be on the fence (about teaching),” said Pintor. “I’m really hoping it will help us see the other side. It’s an entirely different world being in the classroom.”

Pintor said the chapter counselors — Wagner, Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education Beth Birky, Assistant Professor of Family and Consumer Science Dawn Browder and Assistant Professor of Reading Wally Thompson — were the key players in bringing back the chapter.

“The credit really goes to them. All of this wouldn’t have been able to happen without the team that we have,” said Pintor. “They saw I had good communication skills and people skills, (and) I could use that to increase our numbers as much as possible. We want to be genuine. We don’t want to put on a facade. We’re gonna follow through with our work, and we’re gonna be a support system for our members.”

Pintor and Wagner said four departments, represented by the chapter counselors, help unify the education department in a singular purpose.

“We are all in the same boat,” said Pintor. “We all want to teach and reach out (to schools). It’s only fair to reach out to everyone.”

Pintor said relationships with public schools are already being made through their required teacher observations.

Pintor and Wagner said they hope to expand their presence through recruitment efforts.

Most importantly, Wagner said, the students are benefiting from the opportunities of the organization.

“If they dream it, it will happen,” said Wagner. “It gives them a sense of empowerment for their own professional development. Our students deserve this honor.”