TCS Celebrates Future Educators During Annual Signing Day Ceremony

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Twelve Tuscaloosa City Schools seniors on Thursday formally committed to future careers in education during Future Teachers Signing Day at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy (TCTA).

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Modeled after traditional athletic signing ceremonies, the event recognized students who completed TCTA’s Education and Training program and plan to pursue teaching degrees at colleges and universities across Alabama and Georgia.

TCS said students committed to majors including elementary education, early childhood education, secondary math education and physical education.

“You are about to enter the noblest of professions,” Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Mike Daria told students during the ceremony.

The annual event is part of the district’s broader effort to cultivate future educators from within TCS by encouraging students to return to the district as teachers after completing college.

TCTA’s Education and Training instructor Carolyn Lowery said teaching requires more than academic instruction.

“When you go into this profession, it is a calling,” Lowery said. “You’re not only teaching academics, you’re teaching character.”

Several students said classroom internships and hands-on experience helped solidify their decision to pursue education careers.

Bryant High School senior Marquise Duggins said he plans to attend the University of Alabama and major in elementary education, continuing a family tradition in the profession.

“My family is happy that I’m being a teacher, because my grandmother was a teacher,” Duggins said. “There’s not many young men who want to be teachers, so they were very excited.”

Northridge High School senior Lenecia Harkness said she initially planned to pursue nursing before discovering her passion for teaching through internships.

“I wanted to be a nurse at first,” Harkness said. “But interning as a teacher worked for me.”

Bryant High School senior Hannah Carpenter said spending time in classrooms led to her decision to study early childhood education at the University of West Alabama.

“When I started going into classes and seeing the smiles on the students’ faces, I just enjoyed helping them,” Carpenter said.

Her mother, Patricia Lawson, praised the program for giving students early exposure to career opportunities.

“This program is awesome,” Lawson said. “I would most definitely recommend it.”

Daria told students the district plans to continue supporting them throughout college and hopes they eventually return to teach in the city school system.

“We guaranteed a job,” Daria said. “We’re going to continue to invest in you.”

Students recognized during Thursday’s ceremony included:

• Myla Cooper, Bryant High School — Alabama A&M University, elementary education
• Tae Horton, Central High School — Alabama A&M University, physical education
• Mari’Onna Howard, Bryant High School — Alabama A&M University, elementary education
• Jane Hollowell, Northridge High School — Covenant College, elementary education
• Dre’Nekia Simmons — Miles College, early childhood education
• Aneyah Edwards, Northridge High School — Shelton State Community College, elementary education
• Paul Little, Bryant High School — Shelton State Community College, secondary math education
• Kaley Baird, Northridge High School — University of Alabama, elementary education
• Marquise Duggins, Bryant High School — University of Alabama, elementary education
• Lenecia Harkness, Northridge High School — University of Alabama, elementary education
• Jakeya Horton, Northridge High School — University of Mobile, physical education
• Hannah Carpenter, Bryant High School — University of West Alabama, early childhood education

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