Future Educator grant helps UCS fill critical state need for next generation of teachers
Future educator and Henry Ford II junior Jacob
Wojciechowski clearly understands the power of teachers to
change their student’s lives.
“I have been so inspired by my teachers, and I want to do the
same for others in the future,” Wojciechowski
said. “I want to make a difference.”
Wojciechowski is already on a successful path to
meet his future goal, thanks to the Future Educator program in Utica
Community Schools.
To encourage more
students to explore careers in teaching, the district recently received a
$10,000 Future Proud Michigan Explore grant from Michigan Department of
Education.
The
grant will allow the district to expand interest in its Future Educator program
through initiatives such as expanding education career information at the
junior high courses, such as the Life Skills program.
“Our district is a shining example of how skilled and
dedicated teachers can shape the very future of a community,” Interim
Superintendent Robert Monroe said. “Through this grant, we want to build that
next generation of educators who will inspire and positively impact the lives
of students through the power of education.”
Kim Charland, the UCS director of secondary programs, said
that the grant will provide funding to expand career awareness in education at
the junior high level by integrating lessons in areas such as the current Life
Skills program.
The funding will also allow the district to grow the program
from its current 60 students, targeting increased student interest for
secondary education, special education and programs that support English
Language Learners.
That is good news to Graebner Elementary teacher Nicole
Terenzi, who has seen first-hand how the Future Educators program has created
successful teachers – including a former student who worked in her class,
Ebeling Elementary fifth-grade teacher Caitlin Duffey.
She said the students learn every aspect of teaching, from
classroom management, providing individual support to teaching actual class
lessons.
“It really gives students a hands-on experience in what it
takes to be a successful teacher,” she said.
The expanded Future Educator program also addresses a
critical issue in Michigan, where a U.S. Department of Education report
recently found “statewide trends may be affecting the ability of Michigan
schools to fill teaching positions.” (https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED597828.pdf).
The study, released in 2019, projected an anticipated
shortfall of 600 Michigan teacher by the 2022-2023 school year.
One student working to fill that critical void is Henry Ford
II senior Trezeta Halaq, who will enroll next year in
Oakland University’s elementary education program.
“Teachers are the ones that teach to be prepared for our
future,” she said.