State Senate President Stanley Rosenberg encouraged Framingham State’s education students to stay politically engaged and help shape the future of education in Massachusetts during a special celebration of World Teachers’ Day on October 5th.

“It’s a great time to be doing what you’re doing, because we have a teaching shortage,” Rosenberg said during the ceremony, which took place in the McCarthy Center Forum. “By becoming teachers, you are committing yourself to one of the most important functions in society.”

Rosenberg said the Education Reform Act of 1993 helped Massachusetts create the top public education system in the country and one of the best in the world. But he added that the time has come for new reforms to keep moving the system forward, citing ongoing achievement gaps for low-income and minority students.

“We are about to enter a new phase in public education,” Rosenberg said. “The education reform law has plateaued. If we want to make a dramatic advancement in our educational system, we need to take the next step.”

About 100 people attended the celebration, which was one of thousands taking place across the globe as part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Teachers’ Day. Plans for FSU’s celebration were led by Education Professor Kelly Kolodny and members of the student Education Club, led by President Aleksandra Gosz, who emceed the event. The celebration featured posters of FSU professors teaching across the globe at the 18 international sites where Framingham State offers Graduate Courses in International Teaching and Teaching English as a Second Language.

“To all of our teachers gathered here today, and to the thousands of Framingham State alumni teaching throughout the world, I offer my most heartfelt thanks for everything that you do,” said Framingham State President F. Javier Cevallos.

In addition to Senate President Rosenberg, the University was also honored to be joined by local State Senator Karen Spilka and Representative Chris Walsh.