Last Monday, Stony Brook University’s Future Teachers Association (FTA) held its fourth annual Teacher Meet and Greet, bringing together teacher education students and experienced educators from the local area. The event aimed to help current students connect with teachers who have experience in the field.
During the panel discussion, Loraine Richardson McCray, an English teacher at Bellport Middle School and a Stony Brook alumna, offered advice to aspiring teachers. “You’re the thermostat, your students are the thermometers,” she said. “Whatever temperature you set, that’s the temperature they’re going to be at. So you have to really know who you are in your classroom in order to create the atmosphere that works best for you, but also works for them as you get to know their learning styles.”
Rachel Liu, FTA co-founder and soon-to-be graduate of Stony Brook’s combined Bachelor-Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics program, spoke about the origins of the club. “We started the Future Teachers Association for people pursuing careers in education to come together and hold events that help us better understand the profession,” Liu said. “When I was a freshman, there wasn’t a huge education community here, so we wanted to build that up and create more networking opportunities at Stony Brook.”
Since it began four years ago, FTA has organized activities such as mock interviews and teaching practice sessions for members throughout each semester. The group also engages with local schools by delivering supplies and participating in community service initiatives.
Junior Martin Guerrero is expected to become FTA’s next treasurer. He described his experience at the event: “The events are very hands-on,” he said. “And listening to the panel tonight was a great experience. I got the opportunity to familiarize myself with some lovely Long Island teachers, and they had a lot of great information to disperse.”
The evening included time for attendees to network over food before ending with a raffle for FTA shirts and gift bags. Attendees also participated in crafts by decorating mini glass jars.
McCray discussed changes she has observed during her teaching career: “It’s not just about ‘the class as a whole’ anymore,” she said. “We really do look at each individual student... Now there’s no question — you have to individualize and differentiate because the students need that.”
Eric Pentecoste, a student teacher preparing for graduation this spring with his Master of Arts in Teaching Social Studies degree from Stony Brook, attended hoping for guidance from veteran educators. He noted how many panelists found fulfillment after switching careers into teaching: “Most of them talked about pursuing different careers only to fall in love with teaching and their school community,” he said. “To me, this only reiterates the strong passions that teachers have for their students and for the topics they are interested in.”
As founding members like Liu prepare for graduation and new roles on Long Island, other students will continue developing professional opportunities through FTA programs.
“I am incredibly proud of the legacy we built with the Future Teachers Association, creating a community where aspiring teachers can find support, share resources, and remind each other of their shared passion,” Liu said. “I am so excited to see all the potential this club can reach in the following years with its new leadership.”