Teacher Education Stories & News

Marvin Carr graduated from UNI with a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences Teaching.

Meet the 2025 Iowa Military Veteran of the Year, who just started student teaching

Marvin Carr, a 47-year-old non-traditional student at the University of Northern Iowa, walked across the McLeod Center stage in the spring to receive his diploma in Social Sciences Teaching.
The Rachel Martin family of UNI educators

A Shared Bond, A Special Legacy

Thousands of UNI graduates share a bond as Panther teachers and educators. Six families reflect on the legacy of a profession that started it all 150 years ago: teaching.
Incoming freshman Lucy Varney in Marshall School classroom

Transforming Teacher Education

Building on legacy, shaped by collaboration, a new UNI Teacher Education curriculum is designed for the next generation of Panther teachers.
Lindsey Wilson, elementary teaching alum and Nebraska Teacher of the Year

Making a Meaningful Impact

Alum and Nebraska Teacher of the Year Lindsey Wilson values the impact teaching brings to students and classrooms.
A group of people pose for a photo. One is holding a sign that says "Just got inducted into the UNI Teacher Education Program"

UNI celebrates future educators at 62nd Teacher Education Convocation

UNI held its annual Teacher Education Convocation, welcoming future educators into the teacher education program. This event encompasses students from all academic colleges at UNI, highlighting the expansiveness of Iowa’s largest teacher education program.
Student teacher in classroom pointing at world map

Advice for new teachers: 5 tips from seasoned pros

It's normal to be nervous as a first-year teacher. Here’s some of our best advice for new teachers from experienced UNI alumni and teacher education leaders.
Michelle Barnell in her classroom

New UNI teachers ready to enter classrooms for the 2025-26 school year

First-year teachers Benjamin Buseman and Michelle Barnell are readying their classrooms for students. Both teachers graduated from UNI.
Sheritta Stokes shaking President Nook's hand at graduation

She’s a teacher and a single mom, but “It’s never too late to learn”

Sheritta Stokes has overcome a lot to return to UNI. It’s been nearly three decades since she first got her undergraduate degree and started teaching, but she finally earned her Master of Arts in Elementary Education this May.
Tonya Wilson-Story

Finishing what she started - a longtime teacher’s path to a master’s degree

Veteran teacher Tonya Wilson-Story returned to UNI to earn her master's degree, which has improved her teaching practices and increased her confidence.
Principalship students in classroom

First Des Moines principalship graduates set as UNI agreement extended

The first Des Moines Public Schools principalship cohort, enrolled through a special agreement with the College of Education, will be honored at this month’s UNI commencement.