Award-winning alumna presents at Teacher Candidate Conference

In the world of education, it's not every day that you gets the chance to return to your alma mater, come full circle and impart knowledge to the next generation.

But that’s exactly what happened on a mid-October day for a pair of Central Michigan University alumnae educators.

Bridgit Sova ’92 and Mary Laures ’91, visited campus to speak to over 150 students at the CMU College of Education and Human Services Teacher Candidate Conference. Every semester, the conference serves as a celebration of the final phases of the CMU teacher education program. 

For Sova, the 2023-24 Region 4 Teacher of the Year in Michigan, the experience was a heartwarming honor.

“I enjoyed every minute I was there,” Sova said. “I found the students to be confident, professional, and respectful. They asked insightful questions and had such a realistic approach to the needs of today’s educational world. Our schools are in good hands and CMU has prepared them well.”

Sova shared the story of how her time as an undergraduate at CMU set her on the path to a long, fulfilling teaching career.

“I always wanted to be an elementary school teacher. However, in 1992, there was an overabundance of them. A placement counselor from CMU suggested that I volunteer in a special education classroom at a local school. That suggestion changed my future. After two weeks, I was hooked, and I then decided to be a special education teacher. Thirty-one years later, I am still enjoying the profession to the fullest.”

What makes her job at H.H. Dow High School in Midland, MI, extra special these days, is working across the hall from the person she presented with at the Teacher Candidate Conference, longtime friend and former CMU roommate, Mary Laures.

“It helps to have strong bonds with teachers who are close by,” she said, imparting this piece of advice to future teachers: “Sharing the ups and downs, while trying to be positive, helps to maintain a healthy environment.”