As summer approaches, many people across Broken Arrow and the Tulsa metro begin thinking about what comes next. For some, that means preparing for college. For others, it may mean reevaluating a career path, returning to a long-held interest, or searching for work that feels more connected to purpose and community.
One profession continues to sit at the center of those conversations: teaching.
Across Oklahoma, school districts continue working to address teacher shortages while also searching for educators who understand the communities they serve. In many ways, the future of education in our region depends less on recruiting people from elsewhere and more on helping local students, paraprofessionals, career changers and working adults discover they may already belong in the classroom.
That thinking is part of the work happening through Northeastern State University’s RiverHawk Center for Teacher Excellence at NSU-Broken Arrow. The center was created to strengthen educator preparation across the region while helping future teachers gain meaningful classroom experience early in their journey. One of its most hands-on efforts is the Summer Institute for Future Teachers, a June program that places participants directly alongside students and mentoring educators during NSU’s Summer Youth Academy.
The structure of the institute is intentionally practical. Approximately 75 percent of the experience is built around direct classroom engagement, with participants working alongside more than 700 students attending the Summer Youth Academy. The remaining portion focuses on mentorship and professional development, including classroom management, lesson planning and guidance on education degree pathways at NSU.
What makes the program especially meaningful for the Tulsa region is that it was designed with accessibility in mind. Not every future educator follows a traditional path. Some are recent high school graduates considering college for the first time. Others may already be working full time, raising families or exploring whether teaching is the right fit before committing to a degree program.
Rather than asking participants to immediately invest in tuition and coursework, the Summer Institute gives them the opportunity to experience the classroom firsthand before making that commitment. Participants who complete the program receive a $1,500 stipend for their time and professional involvement, helping remove some of the financial pressure that can often stand in the way of career exploration. Students who later enroll full time at NSU may also qualify for additional scholarship support.
That flexibility matters because many of the strongest future educators are already living and working in our communities. They are coaching youth teams, helping in churches, mentoring students, working as paraprofessionals or serving in careers where communication, leadership and compassion already shape their daily work. Sometimes the next step into teaching begins simply by giving someone the chance to see themselves in that role.
Programs like the Summer Institute also reflect a broader shift taking place in higher education. Increasingly, universities are being asked to create workforce pathways that are practical, affordable and closely tied to regional needs. In education especially, hands-on experience and strong mentorship can make all the difference in helping someone decide whether they are truly called to the profession.
For NSU, teacher preparation has long been connected to the university’s mission across northeastern Oklahoma. Many teachers and school leaders throughout Broken Arrow, Tulsa and surrounding communities began their journeys in NSU classrooms. Initiatives like the Summer Institute continue that tradition while helping to strengthen the local pipeline of educators who understand and care deeply about the communities they serve.
As our region continues to grow, so does the need for passionate, prepared teachers. Often, the next great educator is already here, simply waiting for the opportunity to step forward. For more information about the Summer Institute for Future Teachers, visit nsuok.edu/RCTE.
As summer approaches, many people across Broken Arrow and the Tulsa metro begin thinking about what comes next. For some, that means preparing for college. For others, it may mean reevaluating a career path, returning to a long-held interest, or searching for work that feels more connected to purpose and community.
One profession continues to sit at the center of those conversations: teaching.
Across Oklahoma, school districts continue working to address teacher shortages while also searching for educators who understand the communities they serve. In many ways, the future of education in our region depends less on recruiting people from elsewhere and more on helping local students, paraprofessionals, career changers and working adults discover they may already belong in the classroom.
That thinking is part of the work happening through Northeastern State University’s RiverHawk Center for Teacher Excellence at NSU-Broken Arrow. The center was created to strengthen educator preparation across the region while helping future teachers gain meaningful classroom experience early in their journey. One of its most hands-on efforts is the Summer Institute for Future Teachers, a June program that places participants directly alongside students and mentoring educators during NSU’s Summer Youth Academy.
The structure of the institute is intentionally practical. Approximately 75 percent of the experience is built around direct classroom engagement, with participants working alongside more than 700 students attending the Summer Youth Academy. The remaining portion focuses on mentorship and professional development, including classroom management, lesson planning and guidance on education degree pathways at NSU.
What makes the program especially meaningful for the Tulsa region is that it was designed with accessibility in mind. Not every future educator follows a traditional path. Some are recent high school graduates considering college for the first time. Others may already be working full time, raising families or exploring whether teaching is the right fit before committing to a degree program.
Rather than asking participants to immediately invest in tuition and coursework, the Summer Institute gives them the opportunity to experience the classroom firsthand before making that commitment. Participants who complete the program receive a $1,500 stipend for their time and professional involvement, helping remove some of the financial pressure that can often stand in the way of career exploration. Students who later enroll full time at NSU may also qualify for additional scholarship support.
That flexibility matters because many of the strongest future educators are already living and working in our communities. They are coaching youth teams, helping in churches, mentoring students, working as paraprofessionals or serving in careers where communication, leadership and compassion already shape their daily work. Sometimes the next step into teaching begins simply by giving someone the chance to see themselves in that role.
Programs like the Summer Institute also reflect a broader shift taking place in higher education. Increasingly, universities are being asked to create workforce pathways that are practical, affordable and closely tied to regional needs. In education especially, hands-on experience and strong mentorship can make all the difference in helping someone decide whether they are truly called to the profession.
For NSU, teacher preparation has long been connected to the university’s mission across northeastern Oklahoma. Many teachers and school leaders throughout Broken Arrow, Tulsa and surrounding communities began their journeys in NSU classrooms. Initiatives like the Summer Institute continue that tradition while helping to strengthen the local pipeline of educators who understand and care deeply about the communities they serve.
As our region continues to grow, so does the need for passionate, prepared teachers. Often, the next great educator is already here, simply waiting for the opportunity to step forward. For more information about the Summer Institute for Future Teachers, visit nsuok.edu/RCTE.
— Dr. Dan Mabery, NSU Vice President for University Relations & External Affairs
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