China Spring High School is offering a new opportunity for students interested in becoming teachers through its Teaching and Training Program of Study. This program gives students a chance to experience what it's really like to be a teacher by allowing them to create lesson plans, work with students in real classrooms, and learn about the challenges and rewards of the teaching profession. Head course instructor Allison Chapman hopes that this hands-on experience will help reduce the teacher shortage in Texas.
Providing Real-World Experience
The Teaching and Training Program is part of the Texas Education Agency’s efforts to prepare students for careers in education. By enrolling in this program, students get a closer look at what it takes to be a teacher, helping them decide if it’s the right career path for them.
“I’ve always wanted to pursue teaching”, says Maci Spell, a junior at China Spring High School. “It’s been cool to actually be able to go into the classrooms and really interact with students, helping them in different ways and learning how to help”.
For students like Spell, this program offers real-life experience that gives them a better understanding of the teaching profession. Students learn about lesson planning, classroom management, and how to engage students in different ways. “We’re learning about what goes on in the classroom, how to set up lessons, and how some lessons require different things”, says Spell.
Helping Students Decide Their Future
The program also gives students the chance to decide whether teaching is the right career for them. For some students, like Caitlyn Gerick, the program helped them reconsider their career plans. “Just as I was getting older, I think I kind of outgrew the dream job of teacher. I got to understand the reality of it, and it’s still amazing. I still like it, but I think I need to find what I truly want to do”, says Gerick, also a junior at China Spring High School.
This hands-on experience is important because it allows students to see the real-world challenges of being a teacher, such as the different needs of students and the flexibility required to adjust lessons every day. By giving students an inside look into the classroom, the program helps them decide if teaching is a career they truly want to pursue.
Teacher Shortage in Texas
The program comes at a time when Texas is facing a serious teacher shortage. According to the Texas Tribune, 13.4percent of teachers left their jobs between Fall 2021 and Fall 2022. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has identified several areas where there is a critical need for teachers. These areas include:
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
- Career and Technical Education (secondary level only)
- Computer Science/Technology Applications
- English Language Arts and Reading (secondary level only)
- Mathematics (secondary level only)
- Special Education
These subjects are in particular need of new teachers to help fill the gaps in classrooms across the state. The goal of the program is to inspire more students to consider teaching, especially in these high-need areas.
Addressing the Teacher Turnover Problem
Allison Chapman, the Career and Technical Education Teacher at China Spring High School, believes that programs like this one can help solve the teacher shortage problem by giving students the knowledge and experience they need to decide if teaching is the right career for them. “I really think these programs will help with teacher turnover and shortages because students will know exactly what they are getting into. It’s very different from what people think. Like Maci said, you have to be really flexible and understand that every day is going to look different. If you have a passion for it, you can make it work”, Chapman explained.
By offering real-world experience and exposing students to the realities of teaching early in their education, the program helps them make an informed decision about their future careers. Whether students choose to become teachers or pursue other careers, this program gives them valuable skills and insights that can help them succeed in any field.
A Call to Future Teachers
For Maci Spell, the program has confirmed her passion for teaching. “I want to be a special education teacher”, she says. “I just feel like that’s what God has called me to do. I love being able to really help somebody and have those connections”.
This program gives students like Spell the chance to explore their passion for teaching and build the skills they need to succeed in the classroom. With more students participating in programs like this, the hope is that Texas will see an increase in the number of teachers entering the workforce, helping to reduce the teacher shortage and ensure that classrooms are staffed with dedicated and well-prepared educators.
As the teacher shortage continues to be a challenge in Texas, programs like the one at China Spring High School offer a way to inspire and prepare the next generation of educators. By giving students a hands-on look at the teaching profession, the program is working to build a strong foundation for the future of education in the state.
