In a move that underscores its commitment to teacher preparation and local schools, Worcester State University has officially reopened its Center for Pre-K-12 Initiatives in Education, providing a hub for innovation and collaboration.
The reopening was marked by an event Feb. 26 in the university’s Eager Auditorium that featured a keynote address from award-winning teacher and author Jessica Lander, who spoke about the importance of supporting immigrant and first-generation students in the education system.
The Center for Pre-K-12 Initiatives in Education, which had been closed for several years due to the pandemic and other contingencies, will once again serve its core aims of teacher preparation and professional development in partnership with the Worcester Public Schools, Dean of Education Raynold Lewis said.
As Worcester State celebrates its 150th anniversary and recommits to its roots in educating educators, the reopening of the Center for Pre-K to12 Initiatives in Education represents an important step in continuing Worcester State’s legacy of addressing the evolving needs of diverse learners, Provost Lois Wims said.
“The reinvigoration of the Pre-K-12 center is a call to reaffirm our belief in the transformative power of education for students of all backgrounds,” she said.
In a presentation that was interactive and inspiring, Lander, the 2023 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year, emphasized the critical role educators play in fostering a sense of belonging for immigrant and immigrant-origin students.
“One in four students in the United States today are immigrants or children of immigrants,” she told the audience of faculty, students, public school teachers, and community partners. “We each have a role to play in supporting the academic success and long-term success of immigrant-origin students in this country, in this commonwealth, and right here in this city.”
Lander shared that her own experience teaching immigrant students at Lowell High School in Lowell, Mass., led her to step back from the classroom for a year to research and write about the challenges and triumphs of immigrant education. Her book, Making Americans, explores historic struggles, new ideas, and inspiration in immigrant education.
“If we’re to reimagine immigrant education, we are going to need sets of stories first,” Lander explained. “We need stories of the past, stories of the present, and most importantly, stories of the personal–learning directly from our immigrant and immigrant-origin students about their journeys and experiences in our schools.”
Lander emphasized that fostering a true sense of belonging is fundamental for all students, but it’s especially critical for recent immigrants who are creating new lives in the United States. “Belonging is not just about showing up and being present,” she said. “It’s about feeling valued, included, and empowered to contribute.”
Lander’s remarks resonated with the audience, many of whom are preparing to become educators themselves. “This is a really important time in education,” she told the aspiring teachers. “I hope at the end of this conversation you’ll be thinking specifically about how you can be involved in supporting and reimagining immigrant education.”
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