Jr. Future Teachers Organization is Growing

5/25/06

One of Shawnee Community College's goals for the future is to encourage young people to pursue a career in education. To complete this goal, SCC's Education Coordinator, Sharon Walker, has been in contact with the local school districts, helping them to form Junior Future Teacher Organizations. The purpose of these organizations is to help elementary, middle school and high school aged students understand what it means to be a teacher through tutoring, leadership training and assisting with paperwork. To show appreciation to the teachers who sponsor these individual organizations, College personnel visited each school and presented the club sponsors with a certificate of appreciation.

"Teaching is a wonderful profession," SCC President, Dr. Larry Choate shared with Egyptian Future Teachers. "It is a very rewarding career choice. You can see teacher qualities in students as young as 4th grade. There are young students who like to help others, enjoy learning, are compassionate and show leadership qualities. These are the students we are hoping to target." Dr. Choate began his career in education as a 4th grade teacher. He expressed that it has been rewarding to have former students contact him to say thank-you for encouraging them and for being a part of their lives. "Those kinds of rewards are priceless."
Egyptian is one of eight school districts with active Junior Future Teacher Organizations. Along with Egyptian, other clubs have been established in Meridian Elementary, Century Elementary, Vienna Grade School, Brookport Elementary, Joppa-Maple Grove, Goreville Unit #1 and Franklin Elementary in Metropolis.

At Egyptian School District, students in grades 7-11 participate in activities focusing on leadership training, career goals, reading aloud to kindergarten and first grade students, helping middle school and high school teachers with paperwork, as well as having guest speakers. Their sponsor, Brenda Martin, shared that her club members are very excited about their activities and look forward to their two-day camp at Shawnee Community College.

Egyptian School
Shown in photo L to R: Seated: Yvonne Osorio and Jackie Hacker. Middle row kneeling: Elizabeth Cain, She Na Whitaker, Kara Birk, Rebecca Hale, Lindsey Vaughn, John Paulson.
Standing: SCC President Dr. Larry Choate, Sharon Walker, Amber Bigham, Kourtney Quesenberry, Bonnie Farris, Kevin Kobler, Samantha Bruer, Dalisa Smith, Selena Webb, Kiara Frison, Charles Holman, Leslie Baquet, Jasmine Davis-Prewitt, Organization Sponsor Brenda Martin, Egyptian Principal Larry Houston.

All junior future teachers are invited to attend a free Future Teachers Camp sponsored by the SCC Future Teachers chapter on August 1 and 2. Schools may contact Sharon Walker for more information regarding Jr. Future Teachers. (618-634-3235)

Joppa High School
Pictured are:
(L to R) Sharon Walker, Kim Cates (co-advisor), Samantha Marotz, Ashley Smith, Brittany Bennett, Sara Bruce (co-advisor), Tim Bellamey

Meridian
L to R: Meridian Principal Lynn Byrd, Sharon Walker, Co-Sponsors Melissa Russell and Novella Harris, Meridian Assistant Administrator Milton Vaughn, SCC President Dr. Larry Choate.

Century
Front Row L to R: Lorraine Eddings, Katelan Webb, Shelby Penrod, Zachary Sauerbruam, Jordan Caudle, Ariana Groves. Standing L to R: Sharon Walker, Vickie Miller (co-advisor), Clayton Leonard, Cordon Hight, Keturah Baker, Miranda Ditterline, Principal Maureen Mann, Dr. Larry Choate.

Marla Mitchell, 4th grade teacher at Franklin Elementary in Metropolis, is the new Future Teacher Advisor in that school.