Carla Clark | For The Republic RuthAnne Gilroy, second from left, signs a letter of intent to pursue a college degree to become a teacher during a Future Educators Signing Day event in the Judson Erne Auditorium at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
Carla Clark | For The Republic RuthAnne Gilroy, second from left, signs a letter of intent to pursue a college degree to become a teacher during a Future Educators Signing Day event in the Judson Erne Auditorium at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
Thirty one high school prospects signed their letter of intents during a special event last week, but they’re not going from the classroom to the court after college, they’re going from the classroom back to the classroom.

Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. held its second annual Future Educator Signing Day where student’s parents, favorite teachers, district administrators and public officials celebrated their announced intention to pursue a career in teaching.

The ceremony, inspired by athletic signing days, was held in the Judson Erne Auditorium at Columbus North High School on an early Tuesday morning, aptly during Teacher Appreciation Week. Last year, the gathering was held in two separate ceremonies at North and East, but this year students from the two schools and CSA New Tech joined together to enjoy refreshments provided by C4 Culinary Arts students before heading into the auditorium to hear remarks from BCSC Superintendent Chad Phillips, Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner, Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon and 2017 BCSC Education Hall of Fame inductee Janice Montgomery.

They all then walked up to the stage in two groups to sit behind a long table beside their fellow future educators to sign their name on the dotted line, signaling they plan to become what Erin Stalbaum, BCSC Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, described as the “architects of the future as teachers.”

“Our goal is for these students to one day return as classroom teachers here in BCSC to create a long-lasting impact on generations of students to come, just as their teachers have inspired their choice for a rewarding career,” Stalbaum said.

Students were recognized by Stalbaum individually, where she highlighted a bit about their journey, where they plan to attend school next and read a personal testimonial from the teacher each student identified as their favorite in a sentimental touch.

Darby Rocker plans to become a high school history teacher and is going on to Indiana University-Bloomington. The CSA New Tech valedictorian is also among the top 10 seniors graduating from Columbus East. Rocker is the recipient of the prestigious Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship as well, for students pursuing a career in education who are also among the highest achieving of their peers.

Rocker was appreciative of the event because “it puts our names on the map to be future teachers in Indiana” and said its the type of acknowledgement that doesn’t go unnoticed.

“It’s a recognition that should be more popular because it’s not really a high-paying job,” Rocker said. “These people are going in knowing that and still wanting to teach the future generation.”

“Education is the building block for being a human being,” she told The Republic.

Mayor Mary Ferdon touched on that theme during her remarks, where she talked about her time as a public servant, likening teaching in that same vein.

“You will see the potential in kids that nobody else sees,” the mayor said. “… You will also help us create what we call an equitable society, and what that means is you help give opportunities to people who don’t get it from any place else.”

“Teachers help create an equitable society, so you will spend your life in public service and I can tell you it is the most rewarding place to be,” Ferdon told students. “Public service is a gift to the community (and) I hope that you will bring that gift back to Columbus when you graduate.”

Rocker said her favorite period of history is from the American Revolution up to the Cold War era and that 32nd U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt is one historical figure she’s interested in.

She named CSA New Tech’s Veronica Buckler, a history and English teacher, as an educator who was most formative for her in her high school years.

As Rocker signed her letter of intent, a note from Buckler appeared on the screen.

“Darby is exactly the kind of teacher I would want for my future children. She is kind, funny, and deeply thoughtful about the world and education,” Buckler wrote.

Jenner, in conversation with students beforehand, said many talked about teaching their stuffed animals as kids, and teaching their parents math at 8-years-old “which I’m sure they appreciate.”

“You are joining 65,000 Hoosier teachers in being part of the most important profession: Education,” the secretary said.

One of the future educators speaking with Jenner was Sarah Sharp, who took an early childhood education course through Columbus North, and is heading to Ivy Tech Columbus next as she nears completion of her Child Development Associate credential.

Sharp said she’s always been good with kids— and many people have told her that. She’s also looking into business and marketing at the same time, but said she’s going to start as a teacher’s assistant part-time this summer.

Jaci Jones, senior project coordinator at East, is who Sharp named as her favorite teacher, with Jones writing about Sharp: “Another inspiring attribute about Sarah is her drive to truly be herself no matter the roadblocks in front of her. She deeply cares about others around her and it shows.”

BCSC officials said the event is part of a strategy is build a pipeline of future educators from within the community, focusing on the district’s goal of attracting and retaining a diverse, high-quality staff. Before students left they took pictures in front of backdrops of their respective schools and took home gifts from the Bartholomew County Retired Teachers Association and the Columbus Educators Association, including a special “Future Educator” yard sign.

Towards the beginning of the festivities, Phillips gave students a couple of pieces of advice: to get connected to classrooms early on, whether that’s as a tutor, in before or after-school-care, or as a substitute teacher. Phillips pitched for the students to return to BCSC as teachers, but also described teaching as a “get to job” as opposed to a “got to job,” echoing words by TNT sportscaster of Inside the NBA-fame, Ernie Johnson.

“The people that have a get-to job love what they do. And so when you’re an educator and you have a get-to job, you’re going to have a more positive outlook on your work,” Phillips said, telling of the excitement teachers have as their classroom is prepared before the first day of school, “leg hugs from kindergartners” and having students ask adroit questions about a subject they, as teachers, love.

“Those are the easy things about having a get-to job as an educator, but it’s also the tough stuff— the painful, emotional part of being a teacher. Those are also part of a get-to job as a teacher,” Phillips said. “You get to be the trusted teacher that maybe talks a parent through what it means for their child to have a learning disability, you may go to a funeral and tell a parent how special their child was, and you may get to help a young person understand that tough times are how you grow.”

“But you might also get to be the teacher who inspires a child to sit on this stage in 10 to 20 years and say, ‘I want to be like you, my favorite teacher.’ ”
© 2025 The Republic