Future Teacher Academy goes on the road
ESU Media Relations
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
For 20 years, the Kansas Future Teacher Academy has given high school students the opportunity to meet, live, eat, learn, and teach — and hopefully go home with some insights about their possible future careers.
With over a million teachers retiring, leading experts predict the U.S. will need more than two million new teachers within the next decade. This year the academy is joining with the National Teachers Hall of Fame to take the mission to other states.
Supported by the U.S. Department of Education, KFTA and NTHF have joined to offer one-day academies to high school students in three states outside of Kansas.
“For the last few years we’ve been able to have new Hall of Fame inductees meet with our academy students since the induction events in Emporia have been during the academy week,” said Scott Waters, professor in ESU’s school of elementary education. “Now we’re able to send a couple of academy faculty to each of these venues. They, along with NTHF members from the area, will meet with 100-300 high school students for one day to spread the word about the rewards of being a teacher and learn about other careers in education.”
These events will take place March 6 at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La.; March 26 at Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, Mass.; and April 17 at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D.
“Our objective is to showcase the teaching profession on the regional and national levels,” said Waters. Drawing on students from diverse populations and minority groups, and with the reputation of Hall of Fame members and faculty from the nationally acclaimed Teachers College at ESU, Waters is hoping the experience entices more students into teaching careers.
For Kansas high school students, the 20th Kansas Future Teacher Academy will be held at Emporia State University June 14-18, 2009. For the last eight years, the academy has been held at ESU and Dodge City Community College to accommodate summer schedules and geographic distance. The Dodge City Community College KFTA will be June 6-13.
Applications are available online from www.emporia.edu/jones and from high school counselors. Applications will be accepted through March 20. Students are allowed into the academy based upon their academic standing, involvement in school and community activities, and interest in exploring a career in teaching. The academy is coordinated by the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence at ESU. For more information about the academy, visit www.emporia.edu/jones/kfta/ or contact Terri Weast at 620-341-5372 or Scott Waters at 620-341-5764.