UCO Holds Teacher Signing Day for Future Educators
March 27, 2025
The University of Central Oklahoma celebrated future educators at Teacher Signing Day. Central recognized more than five dozen future educators from across the state and nation for their dedication to entering the teaching profession and answering the call of Oklahoma’s critical workforce needs.
Central also awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to future teachers during Teacher Signing Day to assist with their educational journey.
The event featured a keynote from Rachel Keith, Oklahoma’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. UCO President Todd G. Lamb and First Lady Monica Lamb, a former teacher, were in attendance with the President providing remarks.
“Monica and I look forward to Teacher Signing Day. It’s one of our favorite days of the year as we celebrate students who have made a commitment to enriching the lives of future generations through education,” said UCO President Todd G. Lamb.
“Training teachers is foundational to the University of Central Oklahoma and having teachers who are ready to make a difference in the classroom is essential to Oklahoma’s workforce.”
Scholarships awarded at the event include the The University of Central Oklahoma Teacher Education Leadership Scholarship, The Jim ’68 and Donna Davenport Family Endowed Scholarship, The Jacob Crabbe Special Education Scholarship and The Jo Bazhaw Teacher Education Recruitment Scholarship.
"Teacher Signing Day represents a continuation of UCO’s original mission, to prepare teachers for Oklahoma classrooms," said Kim Pennington, Ph.D., assistant dean and director of Education Preparation at UCO.
"More than 100 years later, we are still committed to that mission and celebrating those who choose UCO to prepare them for a teaching career."
UCO also offers additional funding opportunities for education majors, including the Inspired to Teach Program, which provides $25,500 per qualifying student in scholarships and employment incentives. UCO remains the leader in the state for this program, with more than 700 active participants. This year, UCO education majors will receive over a million dollars through this initiative.
UCO offers a wide variety of both bachelor’s and master’s degrees for future and current educators. Programs include elementary education, special education, school counseling and art, among others. Central also provides pathways for alternative and emergency-certified educators in Oklahoma to help fulfill their certification requirements.
Originally founded as the Territorial Normal School with a mission to train teachers, Central’s teacher education program at UCO continues to grow, with enrollment increasing by 18% for fall 2024. Despite this progress, Oklahoma has faced a teacher shortage for over a decade. Teachers and administrators currently occupy seven spots on Oklahoma’s 100 Critical Occupations list, underscoring the pressing demand for dedicated professionals.
For more information about UCO’s Jolene Schwind Office of Teacher Education Services, visit go.uco.edu/teach.
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The University of Central Oklahoma celebrated more than five dozen future educators from across the state and nation at Teacher Signing Day. Pictured, a group of students pose with Bryan Duke, Ph.D., dean of the UCO College of Education and Professional Studies, and Kim Pennington, Ph.D., assistant dean and director of Education Preparation at UCO.
