An upcoming event at the University of North Georgia aims to help high school students interested in teaching careers see what the field is really like.
Future Georgia Educators Day gets high school students on a college campus and engaging with college student ambassadors currently enrolled in the education program, some of which are already working the field.
"It makes such a difference for these high school students to actually experience a college campus with teacher education candidates who are currently enrolled in these programs," said Director of Clinical Engagement and Community Partnerships for the Education Department at the college Cindy Sherrill. "Student ambassadors are seniors in the program, so they're out in their senior internships, they're in the end of the program, and they are so excited about being teachers."
The student ambassadors actually lead the day, Sherill said, allowing interested students to really interact with them. "Since we have such a terrible teacher shortage going on right now, we think its even more important to have the Future Georgia Educator Days."
Sherrill said she felt the excitement in their student ambassadors helped encourage high school students interested in teaching to take a more serious look at the opportunities available. "These high school students, many of them will be teetering on the edge of a career in teacher education, and then when they meet with all the enthusiasm and they see how easily you can go in to this pathway - from high school senior into college into the field of education, and how rewarding that field is, it make such a difference."
Sherrill said they've had several students decide to enroll in the program after spending a FGE day at UNG. They will even have an admissions table available for those who want to apply while they're at FGE day.
And, she said UNG was proud of the statistics that set their college apart from others.
"We have almost 500 students in our program at UNG, and our students are placed in 118 schools in the state of Georgia currently," said Sherill. "So just the impact of the College of Education at UNG and our local school systems is tremendous... We're just really proud that we're making such a difference."
Sherill said FGE high school clubs and all Education Pathway (ECE and TAP) classes are invited to attended the event, but other students who are interested should send her an email to get a visit coordinated.
The event, sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, is November 7 at the Dahlonega campus. In addition to a college tour and lunch in the dining hall, students will attend a college fair, workshops and hear from a keynote speaker. More information can be found on the PAGE website.
