St. John’s Student Teachers Network with Industry Professionals at the Annual Hartigan Forum

The next generation of teachers from St. John’s University began their journey toward life as professionals on April 28 when The School of Education hosted the annual Maureen A. Hartigan Forum and networking event in the D’Angelo Center Ballroom.  

Representatives from 15 area schools and school districts chatted with St. John’s students eager to gather information and connect with industry professionals. Approximately 90 students, including Tina Lin of Flushing, NY, and Linda Melendez of the Bronx, NY, participated in what has become an annual end-of-year tradition for The School of Education.

“It is a valuable opportunity,” said Tina, who will graduate this month and continue for her master’s degree as part of the Adolescent Education and TESOL dual-degree program. “Teaching is something I have always wanted to do, and this gives me a sense of what the schools are looking for when recruiting teachers.”

“Hearing the stories from the recruiters—of what they are looking for and what they have learned as professionals—made me want to share my story,” added Linda, who will continue as part of a dual-degree program in Adolescent Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities. “It is valuable interviewing experience.”  

The School of Education has hosted the Hartigan Forum live or virtually each year since 1988. It honors Maureen A. Hartigan ’55Ed, a former president of The School of Education Alumni Association, while helping St. John’s student teachers connect with school administrators and prepare for future job interviews.

Public and private schools were represented. Administrators came from nearby schools such as Archbishop Molloy High School and St. Francis Preparatory School, in Queens, NY, and from as far away as Three Village Central School District in Suffolk County, NY.

Joining the students were Dean’s Advisory Board members, alumni, faculty, administrators, and staff from The School of Education. One advisory board member—Kevin Sullivan, Ed.D. ’99C, ’02GEd—remembered his experience at the Hartigan Forum 26 years earlier.

“I was just looking for an opportunity to teach English,” recalled Dr. Sullivan, now Assistant Principal at Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School. “I learned what the school district representatives were looking for.”

Dr. Sullivan then shared some advice with the St. John’s student teachers who were in attendance. “Remember to keep your future students at the center of your instruction,” he said. “The ability to connect with students will make you better teachers.”     

Rather than formal job interviews, St. John’s students engaged in introductory conversations about school and district locations, classroom sizes, school missions, and position qualifications. Among the recruiters were alumni including Darius Penikas ’18Ed.D., Principal of Archbishop Molloy, and Roger Bloom ’13Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent for Personnel, Westbury Union Free School District in Westbury, NY.

Drs. Penikas and Bloom were impressed with the quality of the students they met.

“The Vincentian mission of St. John’s aligns with the Marist mission of Molloy,” Dr. Penikas said. “Teaching is more than a job. It is a calling. That is the commitment we see from St. John’s students.”

“St. John’s prepares students with the best possible education for what they will experience as teachers,” added Dr. Bloom, an Adjunct Associate Professor in The School of Education.  

James D. Wolfinger, Ph.D., Dean, The School of Education, welcomed the school district representatives, who met with groups of St. John’s students in 15-minute intervals. Students could chat with representatives from five districts or schools and return later for follow-up questions. 

“It is an opportunity for students to meet people from school districts they might not have been introduced to before,” Dean Wolfinger explained. “When you go to schools in the New York area, you find that St. John’s people are everywhere. That is a wonderful thing for our students, who can network with people who know the type of teacher St. John’s prepares.”

The event included a scholarship award of $5,000 to Emily Jin, who will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Childhood Education. The award capped a big day for Emily, who earlier learned she had been accepted into The School of Education’s graduate program.

“I was not aware they were considering me for the scholarship,” Emily said. “I am extremely grateful for it. People here have told me that teaching is all about building relationships, whether it is with students, parents, the people in your school district, or anyone really who will help you grow.”