Dear College of Education alumni,
In my work, I regularly see teachers, counselors and others in the field of education not considering themselves educational leaders unless they are in a manager or principal type role; however, this can’t be further from the truth. The Penn State College of Education has been producing some of the strongest educational leaders for years.
Classroom teachers, equity advocates, professors, principals and counselors have never had more pressure on their shoulders to help advocate for change to support the needs of our changing world. I have seen incredible leadership in our students, alumni, volunteers, and even those friends indirectly connected to our college. It’s truly amazing to see the power behind our college on and off campus, near and far from University Park.
As we continue pushing through 2023, I hope the new year ushers you in with an entirely fresh mindset. The opportunity to reflect on the success of our college and industry continually provides me with a fresh breath.
Even when pressured by challenges of COVID-19, our college can celebrate so many accomplishments in the past three years, including increasing enrollment in teacher preparation programs; providing professional development and continuing education to the education workforce across the commonwealth; and developing exciting new programs that address critical needs of the workforce in the state, to name a few.
Similarly, the Alumni Society Board continues to support our alumni and college by pushing for more equitable representation on our board and ensuring future years will be the same. This year we implemented our updated elections process that encourages participation from our entire alumni base. We will be expanding our support offerings for our alumni and students, and hope to continue innovating our practices to better serve current and future graduates.
Our board has big plans in 2023 and we will continue pushing forward to change education by educating for change. I encourage you to do the same, no matter your role. Push boundaries, educate for change, and continue being the leaders that live within us all.
It has been a true honor and pleasure to serve on this board in support of our alma mater, and I’m looking forward to supporting you as president in 2023-2024.
I urge you to reach out and contact Stefanie Tomlinson, assistant director of alumni relations, at skt2@psu.edu, if you want to continue your leadership journey with the Penn State College of Education.
For the glory,
Jonathan Klingeman, class of 2008
jtk187@gmail.com