‘Everyone should have the opportunity to learn’: 12 Albert Lea students commit to becoming educators after graduation

Published 4:25 pm Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Twelve Albert Lea seniors on Wednesday signed the Teachers Ledger, signifying their intent to pursue careers in education following graduation. This is the sixth year the Future Teacher Sign In ceremony has been held.

The Albert Lea Education Association, sponsors of the event, organizes the ceremony because they want to recognize future teachers in a setting similar to when athletes sign a letter of intent to play a sport at college, according to teachers and ALEA members, Mary Schoppers and Jacqui Richter, who emceed Wednesday’s ceremony.

“We are so excited to welcome you to the teaching profession,” Schoppers said.

Email newsletter signup

She reminded students of the important role teachers play in shaping the lives of students, saying they have the potential to become the most important positive role model a student has.

Schoppers and Richter took turns introducing the 12 students as they signed the Teachers Ledger. Each student was able to share their future college plans and reason for wanting to go into teaching in letters written prior to the ceremony.

Evie Dawson plans to go to Crown College and major in elementary education with a concentration on middle school communication arts and literature.

Fransheskalee Vazquez Roidan plans to attend Riverland Community College and then transfer to a college in Tennessee. She said the college would probably be Jackson State Community College, and she will major in secondary science education.

Madelyn Anderson will attend Winona State University and major in elementary education.

“I hope to be the kind of teacher that I have had while growing up in school. I want to make a difference in kids’ lives,” Anderson said in her letter. “I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, no matter who they are, how they learn or where they come from.”

Maxx Richards will go to University of Minnesota Twin Cities to major in instrumental music education.

Mavrick Attig plans to go to Riverland Community College and major in secondary education.

Kari Smither plans to attend Riverland Community College with a concurrent program at Winona State University. She plans to major in elementary education.

“I want to see that every student that comes into my care has the opportunity to learn and grow. I believe that every individual has the potential to be a good human and play a part, and this is incredible,” Smither said in her letter.

Brecken Koepke will go to University of Minnesota-Duluth to study secondary social studies education. In his letter, Koepke said he came to this decision after his class participated in the historical museum project, and he got to teach younger students about the history of Albert Lea.

Eh Thaw will attend Winona State University and major in secondary education.

New New plans to go to Augsburg University and pursue elementary education.

“I want to go into teaching because I had the best experience when I was in [an] elementary class with my teacher,” New said in her letter. “They helped me so much and knew how to impact my learning. I would love to be that person for another student and how I can make education fun and meaningful for them.”

Elli Ericksen has plans to go to Minnesota State University to major in elementary education.

Brenda Garcia will attend Riverland Community College for elementary education.

Basilia Garcia Rodriguez plans to attend the College of Saint Benedict and pursue elementary education.

Along with explanations of why they would like to go into the teaching field, students also thanked parents, teachers, mentors, success coaches and other important people in their lives.

Following the signing ceremony, students were each given an ALEA water bottle and took photos with friends and family before classes started for the day.