News

Emporia State University’s long-standing commitment to advancing childhood literacy in Lyon, Osage and Coffey counties has been strengthened by a generous $2.5 million grant recently received from the Walter S. & Evan C. Jones Testamentary Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.

Emporia State students benefited from hands-on experience by visiting one of the world’s most respected education systems in Finland. This spring, 13 education students and three faculty members from The Teachers College at Emporia State University traveled on an education-intensive journey to Finland that included visits to elementary and secondary schools in Vantaa and Espoo in the Helsinki area.

Seven members of the Class of 2026 Kansas Master Teachers were named today (Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026). They will be honored on Master Teacher Day on Wednesday, April 1, at Emporia State University.

The National Memorial to Fallen Educators will be rededicated at 10 a.m. Friday, June 20, in Emporia, Kansas, to honor nine educators who lost their lives in service to their students. The ceremony, hosted by the National Teachers Hall of Fame, will take place in the Jack Skillett Atrium of Visser Hall on the Emporia State University campus and will conclude outdoors at the memorial, weather permitting.

In the year 2000, “Gladiator,” “Cast Away” and “Mission: Impossible II” premiered in movie theatres. Top 100 radio was playing NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and Destiny’s Child. And new TV shows included “Gilmore Girls,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and “Survivor.”

Seven members of the class of 2025 Kansas Master Teachers were named today (Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025) by Emporia State University.

The new dean of The Teachers College is an Emporia State alum with 25 years of experience as an educator and one who has become familiar with the job over the past year. Brent Thomas, provost and vice president for academic affairs, announced Dr. Sara Schwerdtfeger as the permanent dean following a nationwide search. Schwerdtfeger has served as interim dean of The Teachers College since May 2023.

“Knight Owl,” Christopher Denise’s author-illustrator debut, has received the Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award for 2024. The award aims to promote an appreciation of quality literature in young children across Kansas. “Knight Owl” is a New York Times Bestseller and a Caldecott Honor by the American Library Association.

For those who want to become teachers, The Teachers College at Emporia State University has multiple pathways to accomplish this goal. The newest route is a fully online bachelor’s degree in elementary education, which is enrolling now for fall 2024.

Two educators who lost their lives in the line of duty during the past year will be honored during the annual rededication ceremony at the National Memorial to Fallen Educators on Friday, June 21.