New this year, the Education Pathway course, taught by Samantha Young, gives students an inside look at the teaching profession. Students learn about lesson planning, classroom management, educational technology, education laws, ethics, and professional responsibilities. They also learn how to use Google Classroom and create assignments for different grade levels and subjects.
Throughout the course, students will shadow classrooms and school offices, create lesson plans, listen to guest speakers, and attend a teaching conference. These hands-on experiences help students understand that teaching requires patience, preparation, communication, dedication, and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed.
🖤 What Makes a Good Teacher?
As part of the course, students reflected on what they believe makes a good teacher and what they have learned about the teaching profession.
Jairus Robertson explained:
“A good teacher is someone who loves what they do enough to make their students enjoy what they’re doing. A good teacher does everything they can to make their classroom a safe space.”
📚 The Work Behind the Lessons
The students were surprised by how much work goes into teaching outside of the classroom. Alyvia Clapp shared:
“I didn’t realize how much work teachers have to do outside of class, like planning lessons and grading.”
🐻 Teaching Goes Beyond the Classroom
The students also recognized that teachers teach lessons that go beyond the subjects in the classroom. Gunner Jackson reflected:
“Students may not realize all the small things that teachers try to teach us that are preparing us for life. Maybe their discipline is making us become better humans and adults in the future, just things to help prepare us. A lot of the time, I think students want to put blame and fault on our teachers, and don’t see the things these adults are teaching us and preparing us for. They deserve a lot more respect and recognition than they get, especially with the kids in today’s age.”
Future educators are learning what it means to lead, inspire, and make a difference. 🖤🤍