The Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Program is an excellent long-term recruitment strategy to increase the pool of candidates who will be able to fill critical shortage vacancies, increase the diversity of teacher applicants, and promote the hiring of local candidates who are more likely to remain within their school divisions. The program fosters respect for teachers and the teaching profession and provides high school role models for younger students.
The high school students will experience learning as individuals and as productive citizens as they explore new concepts and ideas. The students will experience the profession as they are guided through the history of education and the functions of schools and school divisions. Additionally, the students will experience the classroom as they become acquainted with teachers and teaching on a personal and professional level, including a brief internship in a classroom setting. This is a “dual-enrollment” program, allowing the students to earn a maximum of six undergraduate credits with Shenandoah University if the student enrolls in Teacher for Tomorrow I (3 credits) and Teacher for Tomorrow II (3 credits).
Shenandoah University has had Teachers for Tomorrow programs with schools in the following systems: Arlington, Botetourt, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Frederick, Goochland, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison, Powhatan, Prince William, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Warren, Williamsburg/James City, Winchester City, and York.
Program Purpose
In keeping with the challenge to increase the pool of highly qualified teachers, the purposes of the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Program are:
- To identify, train, and nurture high school students interested in a teaching career;
- To support the efforts of Virginia’s school divisions to meet hiring targets by cultivating an effective “grow your own” recruitment program;
- To create a high school curricular experience designed to foster student interest, understanding, and appreciation of the teaching profession; and
- To attract students to teaching in critical shortage and high needs areas of the state.
Requirements
Virginia’s Teachers for Tomorrow Program is offered to high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing a career in education. The program is designed to attract teacher candidates from high school students to the field of education through exposure to a world-class curriculum and hands-on experience that focuses on teaching. Students must complete the following eligibility requirements to be considered for enrollment in the program:
- Have and maintain a minimum 2.7 grade point average or its equivalent;
- Submit three satisfactory teacher recommendations; and
- Submit a brief essay and application.
Benefits
Benefits for Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow candidates include:
- An introduction to teaching and the teaching profession;
- Opportunities to satisfy beginning teacher assessment requirements;
- Potential dual enrollment credit;
- Scholarship information;
- Field trips;
- Classroom observations;
- Educational leadership opportunities;
- Teaching experience before college;
- Opportunities to make a difference in a student’s life; and
- Meaningful, creative, hands-on learning activities.
Suzanne Park
Programs Coordinator, Extended & Distance Education
spark@sovab-presse.com