By Stephen Smoot
As Pendleton County Schools continue a strong rebound from issues imposed by COVID, officials continue to identify the shortage of certified teachers as a key barrier to further improvements.
Over a century ago in remote areas, teachers often honed those skills before they graduated from the eighth grade. One or other limited room schoolhouses often relied on a single teacher to lead all education. That teacher would generally rely on older students to teach the younger children, which also reinforced both their knowledge and technique.
By the time those seeking to teach completed their final grade in school (normally eighth in those days) they were considered experienced enough to teach school in very remote and rural areas.
“Educators Rising” restores the essence of that dynamic in hands-on ways, starting their teacher education before their teachers have finished teaching them. It works hand-in-hand with Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College’s “Grow Your Own” program that enables teacher education to start during a student’s high school years.
Aspiring teachers can reach their sophomore year before graduating from high school through attending and passing “dual credit” courses that provide simultaneous high school and college credit. Credits earned from EWVCTC will transfer to other state schools’ programs, too.
Upon graduation and attaining their 18th birthday, program participants may qualify to work as teacher aides. They can also take examinations to demonstrate skills mastery for work consideration.
Janice Heavner serves as the teacher-advisor and constant inspiration for the club. She shared that the goal lies in having the students be “able to walk into the college setting and say, ‘I’m ready to go.’”
As member Vivian Pownell shared, “Educators Rising is a club for future teachers. It promotes kids getting out there and getting teaching experience.”
To younger people who think they may want a teaching career, Pownell replied “I’d say definitely consider it.” She encouraged them to also seek out volunteer opportunities where they could gain experience, relating that “I helped with a program called Energy Express.” That program was run by West Virginia University Extension Service through Franklin Elementary School.
Some joined the club to gain general skills or give teaching a “try.” Heavner shared, “I’ve had kids who have been in my class because of a friend, who now say ‘I want to be a teacher’” and gave the example of Katelyn Hedrick, who graduated from Pendleton County Middle/High School last year. She switched her intended major from the medical field to early childhood education as a result of her experience there.
Club participants will get their education immersion at Franklin Elementary School, starting out helping the classroom teacher, then gradually taking on a more significant role.
While Pownell is entering her senior year as a season program veteran, Hannah Schell just started her first year and enjoys “learning about the children.” She originally wanted to serve as a pediatric care nurse, but has gained skills and knowledge which could serve her well as either a teacher or a nurse working with children.
Schell said, “I have not gotten to work with the kids yet” but will gain her first experience this week. “I’m excited,” she shared, adding that she is “interested to experience and learn how teachers interact and learn with students.”
The club instills more than simply teacher education training because students chart the course of the organization in its several projects. Last week, Susan Vincell, club president, led the group as it determined who would take leadership roles on each monthly set of special projects for PCMHS. She also led a discussion on their ongoing projects, such as social and other media communications.
Larissa Greathouse supports the organization as vice president while Taylor Roberson is secretary and Callie Dunn, treasurer.
As Vincell called out each project, members quickly and eagerly volunteered to help. Some volunteered to do more than one month. Then the leadership team and volunteers each evaluated the general needs of each project for the sake of advance preparation.
Particular attention was given to February because, as Vincell noted, “This is one of our biggest fundraisers. We need all of us to help with this.”
Heavner added that in a month the group will attend a fall leadership conference in Charleston.
Other members of the club shared their motivation for taking part and volunteering with the club. Sam Eason stated that “my dad’s a teacher,” which helped to inspire him. He added that he knew “about Educators Rising from things they’d do throughout the school” and wanted to be a part of it.
Vincell added to that, saying that she wanted “to make an impact on kids” by “providing them with a space to express themselves and feel safe.”
The program, explained Vincell, allows those involved to “interact with the kids, experience what being a teacher is like, and get to learn from the kids.”
