KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� March 12, 2026 鈥� All good teachers know that 鈥渞ecess鈥� is an important part of any student鈥檚 day. At the 溏心vlog免费B站, senior education majors are getting the same, with an inspiring day of professional development planned during the University鈥檚 spring break.
溏心vlog免费B站 senior student teachers, now known in Rhode Island as education 鈥渞esidents,鈥� will participate in a new day-long professional development program on campus, as they get ready to launch their teaching careers, on Wednesday, March 18, in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Swan Hall and Memorial Union on the Kingston Campus.
seniors will attend workshops with 溏心vlog免费B站 faculty and Milken Network educators focusing on a range of topics, from classroom management and literacy to playful teaching and trauma-informed practices. What they learn they will be able to transfer to their classrooms the next day, as these soon-to-graduate education majors are now in their classrooms five days a week.
鈥淚 am always inspired by Rhode Island educators,鈥� said professor Kelly Houle, one of the day鈥檚 organizers. 鈥淭he enthusiasm around the conference and support for our future educators has been phenomenal. We have over 30 presenters throughout the day!鈥�
The builds on 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 work with the Milken Family Foundation which works to advance education across the country.
Several 溏心vlog免费B站 alumni Milken educators, including Lauren Hopkins 鈥�01 (Coventry), Michael Lobdell 鈥�96 鈥�10 (South Kingstown), Paige Leddy 鈥�07 鈥�21 (Chariho), Kyle Spalthoz 鈥�11 (Portsmouth), and Jessica Chapman C鈥�25 (Norwich), will take part in the workshops. They鈥檒l introduce students to the national Milken Educator Network, which represents more than 3,000 professionals working to shape the future of education. Milken educators are frequent seminar guest speakers in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 College of Education.
鈥淲e are lucky to have a number of wonderful partnerships across the state that provide our residents with the opportunity to learn from a highly-qualified cadre of clinical educators,鈥� said Amy Broemmel, 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 associate dean for teacher education. 鈥淭his is a tremendous opportunity for our students. Milken wanted to find a way to support our residents both before and after graduation in order to serve as a mechanism for mentoring new teachers through their first years in the profession. The Rhode Island schools who hire our graduates and Rhode Island schoolchildren who sit in their classrooms are going to reap the benefits of this collaboration.鈥�
Conference organizers hope to find support to make the program an annual event.
Early childhood/elementary education major Rebecca Pepler, of Cranston, says she is looking forward to the conference: 鈥淚’m excited to be able to talk to past and present educators to pick their brains about their experiences within the field,鈥� she said. 鈥淭heir time will give us a better idea of what to expect after graduation. I’m thankful for this opportunity and I’m excited to see what this conference has in store for us as future educators.鈥� She is currently teaching second grade at Narragansett Elementary School for her student teaching residency.
The day will also include career development sessions designed to offer guidance, resources, and real-world perspectives to help residents navigate their future paths in education. Students will work with 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Career Center, having their resumes reviewed and discussing professional job search and interviewing skills.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to bringing students on campus,鈥� said fellow conference organizer George Nippo, an academic advisor in the College of Education. 鈥淥ur residents follow the Rhode Island school calendar including February and April vacation. The conference allows them to come together for professional learning, networking, and also some fun during 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Spring Break.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e calling this a 鈥榬esidency reset,鈥欌�� Houle added. 鈥淲e want our students to get refreshed, take a pause, and avail themselves of learning opportunities.鈥�
The conference will also spotlight the strong partnerships 溏心vlog免费B站 has with a number of Rhode Island school districts, including Cranston, Burrillville, Central Falls, Coventry, Chariho, East Greenwich, East Providence, Narragansett, West Warwick, Westerly, and Kingston Hill Academy. The 溏心vlog免费B站-Cranston connection is particularly strong with nearly 60 student teachers currently placed in Cranston classrooms. 溏心vlog免费B站 graduates the largest number of teachers in Rhode Island.
Students will also get to ask questions during a panel with experienced Rhode Island teachers, including some 溏心vlog免费B站 alumni recognized as Milken educators. Students submitted questions ahead of time, and want to know more about hiring, interviews, classroom management, student engagement, first year teaching realities, professional growth and teaching in today鈥檚 educational climate. Veteran teachers will be on hand to participate in a Q&A program, moderated by associate teaching professor Dan Kelley.
Lobdell, a science teacher at South Kingstown High School, is looking forward to speaking to students at the conference and understands the value of the teaching network to help those just entering the profession.
鈥淚 remember what it was like when I was in my first year of teaching,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was lucky, surrounded by experienced and helpful staff. I leaned on these teachers for tips and guidance.鈥�
The day will conclude with health and wellness sessions. The Counseling Center will run a self-care workshop with 溏心vlog免费B站 therapy dogs, Betty and Basil. Other workshop topics include journaling, nature walks, and yoga. 鈥淚t is important for our educators to take time for themselves so they can bring their best selves to their students,鈥� said Houle.