Teacher Education Helps Students Dress for Success
Putting together a professional wardrobe on a student budget isn’t easy. That’s why for the second year in a row, the Future Educators of UND (FEUND) are sponsoring a clothing drive for students who are about to begin student teaching or working in career environments.
“The students had expressed perhaps a need or interest in getting some professional dress because it’s really pretty challenging to go from kind of like your normal, day-to-day college wear into ‘I need to dress professionally’. That can cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars,” said Katie Stermer, Outreach Specialist for the College of Education and Human Development. “So, using the resources within this building to kind of support them as they go into student teaching I think was kind of the goal and reason.”
Last year’s clothing drive was organized by FEUND members and former Outreach Specialist Monte Gaukler. Stermer said this is the first time she has been involved in organizing the clothing drive. Department assistant Angie Stokke, who is also located in the Teacher Education Suite, will be assisting with the event for the second year in a row.
Faculty and staff are asked to donate their gently used professional clothing, including:
- long-or short-sleeved women’s blouses, tank tops, or shells
- collared, button-down, polo or flannel shirts
- dress pants, dresses or skirts
- ties and belts
- sweaters, cardigans, and blazers
- nice jeans that can be worn on Casual Fridays
- nice “athleisure” clothing such as sweatshirts that can be worn by physical education teachers
FEUND is also seeking donations of classroom décor such as plastic bins, decorative lamps or other non-paper decor that can help improve the vibe of a classroom. This does not include pens or pencils, since Stermer said schools often supply these items for teachers.
All donations should be packed in a box or bag and labeled with their contents. Stermer said while some items have been received, more donations are still needed.
“We definitely need a lot more for it to be successful and worthwhile,” said Stermer. “Both men’s and women’s clothing are needed.”
Donations will be accepted between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Friday, Nov. 1 at Stermer’s office in the Teacher Education Suite (Room 31) on the ground level of UND’s Education Building. Members of the FEUND student organization will then organize and sort the various donations into different sizes and styles. Education majors will be able to shop for the clothing and supplies they need between Nov. 18 and 22.
“It’s all free (for the students),” said Stermer. “We’re going to kind of set it up kind of like a shop so people can roam in and out and take what they need for their student teaching or their teaching experiences.”
Stermer said up to 40 education majors will be doing their student teaching during the spring semester, and that other students will also need professional attire when they are working in the field.
“I think we’d be happy if, like, 30 people stopped in,” said Stermer, but the event is open to all education majors who need the support.
All items that are not taken by education students will be donated to the UND Career Closet, which is available to all UND students in need of clothing.
The FEUND student organization meets every other Thursday evening at 7 p.m. In addition to the clothing drive, student members have a full year of events planned, including rock painting, teacher talks and walking in parades.
Email Stermer at katie.stermer@und.edu with any questions about the clothing drive or the FEUND student organization.
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