Carroll County High School is planning to offer a new pathway to its students next school year to intentionally work on developing the next generation of educators.
Superintendent Casey Jaynes explained the goal of the education pathway is for students to graduate high school with an associates degree then get enrolled in a program with a partner university in order to streamline the teaching pathway and pipeline.
The students participating in the discussion were recommended by teachers or showed an aptitude for teaching, according to Crystal Raisor, college and career readiness coach at CCHS.
Students learned about elementary, middle school, high school, career and technical education and higher education during a roundtable discussion. All of the teachers who were featured are graduates of Carroll County and returned home to teach.
“There are some pretty big plans of how you’d be educated and get back in here,” CCHS Assistant Principal David Craig told the group. Craig worked at Toyota for several years before he decided to become a teacher and explained to the teens the process he went through to join the field. “We’re raising the bar to push you guys toward doing bigger things,” he added.
Crystal Trimble, who’s a first grade teacher at Kathryn Winn Primary and CCHS graduate, talked with her group about the difference between elementary and other teachers. “With elementary you teach all content areas and are certified in all content areas,” she said.
Jaynes, whose background is in career and technical education, said developing relationships with students is key to succeeding as a teacher. “I want teachers to be mentors but not best buddies and, to be a mentor, you have to have a good relationship with a student.” Most of the students at his table were easily able to identify a teacher who fits that description.
“The goal for us is to develop a pathway where you’re getting experience along the way,” Jaynes added.
Christin Lewellyn, an instructional coach at CCHS and former history teacher, shared her story of working to find the career she loves. Her path began in English then math and finally landed with history. “It’s what I really fell in love with,” she said, noting she actually thought she would teach elementary school. “I started with fifth grade in mind and look where I ended up,” said the 10-year CCHS veteran.
The education pathway would begin with dual credit classes in Introduction to American Education and Introduction to Psychology, which will be taught through JCTC.