08/31/2026
One of the things students love most about Wichita State University’s Transition to Teaching program is that we are in the room together.
That may sound simple, but it matters.
Our T2T teachers are already in their own classrooms, dealing with real students, real challenges, and real questions every day. When we meet in person, instructors can listen to what new teachers are experiencing and adjust our instruction to give them the support they need right now.
Saturday was a perfect example.
Wichita Public Schools master teacher Connie Russell joined us to talk about elementary and middle school discipline, classroom processes, and what it really feels like to be a first-year teacher.
She told our Year 1 teachers: “The first years are like being in the ocean. You launch, and things are going well, and then all of a sudden a big wave comes and knocks you over, and you feel like you are drowning.” But she also reminded them that tomorrow is always another opportunity, “Every day is a new day for you and the kids. Everyone starts fresh each day, and what sucked yesterday we try to make better today!”
Then one of our own T2T classmates, Peter Ercolani, challenged us to think carefully about AI in education. His reminder that “You ARE a cognitive example to your students” sparked an important conversation about when technology supports learning and when it can get in the way of the thinking we want students to develop.
And Mr. E's hand-drawn “slide show”? A HUGE hit. 😊
Here’s the part that is especially important: neither of these lessons was part of the original plan for this semester. We added them because our new teachers told us what they were seeing and what they needed.
That is one of the biggest advantages of Wichita State University's in-person Transition to Teaching program. We don’t just hand new teachers coursework and send them on their way. We build a community where they can ask questions, learn from experienced educators, learn from one another, and get support that responds to what is actually happening in their classrooms.
Community. Collaboration. Connections. That’s the WSU T2T difference.
Know someone who would make an incredible teacher? Tag them below. Sometimes the best future teachers just need someone else to tell them, “You should do this.”
Learn more: wichita.edu/t2t
Wichita State University College of Education
