Planting the teaching seed

It seems like we wring our hands constantly about teacher shortages. Well, it’s Friday and my hands are tired. Fortunately, Heritage University has created a program that gives Eastern Washington high school students who aspire to be teachers a chance to gain experience.

Dubbed “Recruiting Washington Teachers” (clever! sorry) and run through Educational Service District 105, the program starts with a three-day teacher prep academy, which commences a year-long course of study. Throughout the year, high school students will be able to work with teachers in their high schools as advisers and mentors for other students. They’ll also be given tailored college counseling in order finish well and enter undergraduate teaching programs.

"This program helps you get the confidence to share your ideas and go out and do what you want," Xuxa Garza, who will be a junior at the Yakama Nation Tribal school next year, told the Yakima Herald Republic. "I enjoy being in the classroom and learning and stuff. School work was my way of getting away from my problems."

Ultimately, the program’s goal is to recruit more students from diverse backgrounds into high shortage content areas, such as math, science, ELL and special ed. Sounds good to me (and my hands)!

TGIF.