Rotation 1 - 10:45–11:25 a.m.

The Do’s/Don’ts about Professional Responsibilities and Dispositions: What are school members observing about pre-service teachers?
Location: SC Ballroom
Description: This panel of superintendents, principals, directors, and district special services representatives will share noteworthy observations about pre-service teachers. They will highlight what they look for when a pre-service teacher enters their school/district. Discussions will also be held around the pitfalls pre-service teachers should avoid. The discussion will end with a brief Q&A.
Moderator: Dr. Cori Brown, Associate Professor, College of Education at Rowan University
Panelists: Mr. Dion Davis, Director of Human Resources, Winslow Twp. Public School District
Dr. Anthony Fitzpatrick, Assistant Superintendent, Delsea Regional Public School District
Dr. Carmelita Graham, Director of Vocational Education and Career and Technical Education, Egg Harbor Twp. Public School District
Dr. Al Lewis, Superintendent, Glassboro Public School District
Ms. Karen McCafferty, Director Human Resources, Millville Public School District

Rotation 2 - 11:30 a.m.–12:10 p.m.

Ready, Set, Teach: How do you land a teaching position?
Location: SC Ballroom
For pre-service teachers preparing to enter the interview process, this panel of superintendents, principals and human resource professionals will come with prepared, real-life scenarios that are aimed at preparing someone being interviewed for a teaching position. Pre-service teachers will volunteer to roleplay how they would handle the scenario to land the position and panel members will highlight ways in which the pre-service teacher is ready and/or set to teach. The discussion will end with a brief Q&A about observations made and feedback presented.
Moderator: Dr. Stacey Leftwich, Associate Dean, Educator Preparation, Rowan University
Panelists: Dr. Ronn Johnson, Superintendent Lawnside Public School District
Dr. Ariel Lajara, Superintendent, Vineland Public School District
Ms. Kelly Marchese, Principal, Dorothy L. Bullock Elementary School, Glassboro Public School District
Dr. Christopher Meyrick, Superintendent Woodstown-Pilesgrove School District
Ms. Kristi Schoppe, Principal, Quarter Mile Lane School, Bridgeton Public School District

Rotation 3 - 12:15–12:55 p.m.

Beyond the Degree: Unfiltered lessons from early-career teachers
Location: SC Ballroom
Description: This panel of 3-5 year out College of Education graduates will share their early classroom teaching experiences. Panelists will compare real stories from the field about things they wished they knew then to what they know now.
Moderator: Erica Watson Brown, Instructor and Program Coordinator for Elementary Education
Panelists: Ameila Bierman '25, Resource Teacher, Chews Elementary School, Gloucester Township Public Schools
Nicole Cocco '22, BAIE Graduate, Inclusive Elementary Education with an CUGS in ESL, High School ESL Teacher, Long Branch High School
Aaliyah Ayala,
Daniel Marquez '24 M'25, ESL Teacher at Williamstown High School, Monroe Township Public Schools and former Project IMPACT Scholar, 9-12 grade
Thomas Perren, Elementary Teacher, Bridgeton Public School District; ASPIRE to Teach graduate and former MOCHA Fellow
Michael Stanton '25, Former 3rd Grade Teacher, Kirby’s Mill Elementary School, Medford School District

Rotation 4 - 1:00–1:40 p.m.

Every Brain Belongs: A discussion around culturally responsiveness for neurodivergent learners
Location: SC Ballroom
Description: This panel will explore culturally responsiveness and neurodiversity. Panelists will share how educators should create a learning environment where neurodivergent students feel seen, valued, and empowered. During this panel discussion, participants will learn ways to foster inclusive classrooms for every student.
Moderator: Kerry Cormier, Lecturer, Rowan University
Panelists: Chiara Latimer, Director of the Center for Neurodiversity and the Autism PATH Program, Rowan University.
John Woodruff, Senior Director of the Accessibility Services, Rowan University
Lisa Dolby, Teacher of Students with Disabilities 18-21, Delsea Regional High School; 2023 Gloucester County Teacher of the Year
Angelina Witting '26, Former member of the Educators for Diversity & Social Equity student club, Former Student Ambassador & CED Medallion Recipient

A Fireside Chat with Gillian Ober: 2025-2026 NJ State Teacher of the Year

Rotation 1 ONLY | Room 221A

Presented by: Gillian Ober, State Teacher of the Year 

Post the keynote speaker’s speech, students will have an opportunity to speak with and pose questions to Gillian Ober.

Workshop Participants: Any student pursuing a teaching degree and certification

Requirements: Prepare questions in advance to ask during the Q & A session.

Cleared to Teach: Navigating the NJ Criminal History Clearance Process

Rotations 1,2,3,4  |  Room G54A & B

Presented by: The Office of Clinical Experiences Team

This hands-on workshop will guide teacher preparation students through the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Criminal History Clearance Application process.

All College of Education students are required to obtain an NJDOE Criminal History Clearance prior to participating in any clinical field experience. During this workshop, the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) will provide step-by-step guidance through the NJDOE application process and assist with any questions students may have.

Workshop Participants: This workshop is for students who anticipate entering a field placement in the spring 2027 semester (typically sophomores).

Requirements: Laptop, Social Security Number & Credit or Debit Card (see below)

Application Fees (subject to change without notice): Approximately $11 is payable to the NJDOE at the time the online application is submitted. This fee includes the Criminal History Review processing fee and the service provider fee. Approximately $70 is payable to IdentoGo when completing the fingerprinting appointment.

The Substitute Pathway: Navigating substitute teaching opportunities with Kelly Education

Rotations 1,2  |  Room 129

Presented by: Abigail Nanna, Kelly Education Recruiter 

This workshop is designed to provide students who are interested in substitute teaching, an opportunity to learn about the hiring process within Kelly Education. The presentation will provide an overview of potential substitute teaching positions and information on the partnering school districts seeking substitute teachers.  In addition, participants will be provided the steps expected during the onboarding process with Kelly Education. The presentation will end with a Q&A.

Workshop Participants: This workshop is intended for students interested in becoming substitute teachers (must have minimum of 30 college credits) or substitute paraprofessionals (minimum requirements will depend on the district)

Requirements: None

From Tutor to Teacher: Accelerating your career with the New Jersey Tutoring Corps

Rotations 1,2, 3, 4  |  Room 221C

Presented by: Katerine Bassett, Chief Executive Officer, NJ Tutoring Corps Inc

Description: In this session, prospective educators will discover how the New Jersey Tutoring Corps (NJTC) can jumpstart their teaching careers. Participants will learn about our paid tutoring opportunities and our first-in-the-nation Registered Tutor Apprenticeship Program. We will highlight how pre-service teachers can gain invaluable, hands-on classroom experience, receive dedicated career coaching, and master core competencies in instruction and planning—all while making an immediate impact on scholars' academic recovery and confidence. Join us to find out how you can build practical teaching skills, access financial incentives to cover certification requirements, and seamlessly bridge the gap between your university coursework and your future classroom. 

Workshop Participants: Pre-service teachers, education majors, and any university students interested in gaining paid, hands-on instructional experience and exploring structured pathways into the education profession.

Requirements for the Workshop: None

Teaching in New Jersey: A career that rewards your passion

Rotations 3 ONLY  |  Room 221A

Presented by: Eda Ferrante, Associate Director of Membership, NJEA

Desiree Hindman, NJEA Field Representative

Description: Discover the lifestyle and career benefits of teaching in New Jersey while exploring how NJEA and NJAEA support aspiring educators from college through their professional careers. Learn about membership benefits, valuable resources, and gain understanding of teacher contracts and workplace rights.

Workshop Participants: Any student interested in teaching as a career

Requirements: None

Evidence of Impact: Building your professional teaching portfolio

Presented by: Kristen Johnson, K12 Social Studies Teacher, Carteret Middle School; 2025 Middlesex County Teacher of the Year

Description: A professional teaching portfolio should do more than showcase what you have done—it should help communicate who you are becoming as an educator. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore how to move beyond simply collecting lesson plans, certificates, and artifacts to intentionally selecting evidence that demonstrates their instructional choices, professional growth, and impact on students. Participants will consider the story they want their portfolio to tell, connect artifacts to reflection and evidence of impact, and practice translating those examples into language they can use during interviews. Students will leave with a clearer vision for their professional portfolio and at least one evidence-of-impact example they can continue developing as they enter the profession.

Workshop Participants: Open to students across the College of Education, particularly pre-service teachers preparing for Clinical Practice, graduation, and the job-search process. The workshop is designed to be valuable whether participants are beginning a professional portfolio or already have one in progress.

Requirements: Participants should bring a laptop or tablet if available. Students are also encouraged to have access to one or two potential portfolio artifacts—such as a lesson plan, student work sample, assessment, reflection, project, observation feedback, or other evidence from their clinical experiences—that they can use during the workshop.

Program to Practice: A Mentoring Network Collaboration with NJ State Teachers of the Year and Rowan University

Rotations: 3, 4   |   221B

RIZE to the Challenge: An introduction to the Recruiting and Inspiring Zealous Educators scholar program

Rotation 2 ONLY   |   221A

Presented by: Dr. Ya Vanca Brooks, Recruitment & Retention Specialist; RIZE Program Coordinator

Description: At the heart of every successful school is a passionate, well-prepared teacher. RIZE (Recruiting and Inspiring Zealous Educators) is a Rowan College of Education initiative designed to prepare and strengthen education majors to teach Pre-School to 12th grade. RIZE equips future teachers with the knowledge, skills, abilities, mentorship, career pathways, and community needed to thrive in today’s classrooms and inspire the leaders of tomorrow. 

Workshop Participants: Open to all College of Education students

Requirements for the workshop: None

Finding Your Classroom: Navigating ProfJobs to find a teaching position

Rotation 3 ONLY  |  Room 221B

Presented by: Drew D’Elia, Career Counselor, Rowan University.

This session would provide teacher candidates with valuable guidance on using ProfJobs effectively during their job search and navigating the hiring process for teaching positions.

Workshop Participants: Juniors & Seniors

Requirements: Laptops encouraged

The Digital Edge: Leveraging AI tools for a teaching career

Rotation 4 ONLY   |   Room 129

Presented by: Dan Kipnis, STEM Librarian, Teaching & Learning, Campbell Library

Description: AI tools moved from novelty to daily use in K-12 schools faster than teacher preparation programs could respond, and the teachers entering classrooms are now the first cohort expected to arrive already fluent. This session gives preservice teachers a practical footing: what current AI tools do well, where they fail, and how to use them without outsourcing professional judgment. Participants will walk through the tasks that consume a new teacher's week, including lesson planning, differentiating texts, drafting rubrics, and writing family communications.  See how AI tools shorten each one. Participants will also learn strategies to support teaching students to use AI honestly, reading a district's AI policy, catching bias and fabricated sources, and protecting student data. Participants leave with a starter toolkit, reusable prompts, and language for describing AI skills in a job interview. 

Workshop Participants: Open to all Education Major Students

Requirements for the workshop: Cell phones and Laptop.

Pitching Your Potential: Crafting your teacher elevator pitch

Rotations 1, 2   |   Room 221B

Presented by: Meredith Brown, Career Services Advisor, RCBC

Description: Your professional story can be one of the most powerful networking tools! In this interactive 40-minute workshop, students will turn their experiences, skills, and goals into a compelling 30-60 second elevator pitch. Through movement, partner activities, reflections, and real-time practice, students will discover what makes their professional story memorable and learn how to adapt their pitch for different professional settings. Students will also explore informational interviews as a way to build meaningful professional relationships. Leave this session with a polished elevator pitch, practical networking strategies, and greater confidence in telling your story all while doing so in a supportive and encouraging environment!

Workshop Participants: All Education Major Students

Exhibits:

Tables

• Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development
• Educators for Diversity & Social Equity
• Early Childhood Club
• Elementary Education Club
• Health & Physical Education Club
• National Art Education Association Student Chapter
• Kappa Delta Pi - Eta Psi Chapter (Education Honor Society)
• Alpha Delta Kappa Collegiate Club

Student Center Pit

Professional Headshots: 11 am-2 pm

Resume Review: 8:30 am-2 pm

Mock Interviews Practice: 8:30 am-2 pm