Growing tomorrow’s teachers at Heights today

Hamilton Heights students interested in a career in education can get an up-close and personal look into the profession through Tomorrow’s Teachers: Growing Our Own program at Indiana University Kokomo (IUK). This year marks Heights’ third year to participate in this innovative program is designed to identify, encourage, and prepare individuals in their own community who are interested in becoming an educator or educational professional.

The program matches students interested in education with the resources to help them launch their career while still in high school. Courses can be utilized for dual-credit purposes and as part of a graduation pathway. IUK faculty bring the classes to Hamilton Heights giving juniors and seniors the chance to get a head start on college, explore teaching to see if it might be the right career choice for them, and learn skills that prepare them to be a successful college student.

Through the program, students enjoy a blended format that includes school-based field experiences as well as meetings at the high school. These are hands-on and intentionally sequenced in P-8 classrooms that are coordinated and supervised by district educators and integrated into IUK education courses. They will experience direct engagement activities on campus where they’ll build community and network to gain a better understanding of the profession.

“This program gives them a chance to learn some of the intricacies about the field and opportunities to spend time in the classroom with students to see if this is a career they want to pursue after graduation,” explained Lori Hippensteel, who has been one of the program’s biggest cheerleaders. “We have long had opportunities for high school students to assist in classrooms in the role of a peer facilitator or cadet teacher, but tomorrow’s Teacher program kicks it up a notch connecting high school students from other schools with similar career interests to work together and take college-level classes related to the field of education.”

“We have several students who are interested in entering the education field, but they seldom have outside supporters,” explained Hippensteel. “In fact, we have found that students are often discouraged from pursuing a career in education due to the pay scale, personal safety, and the lack of respect many receive. That’s not necessarily an accurate portrayal. The education field is filled with rich, diverse, and rewarding opportunities that in a field that can truly change lives.”

“Through this program, we encourage students to explore all areas of education, daycare, preschool, elementary school, middle school, special education, and specials (music, art, PE) and especially the librarian,” continued Hippensteel, who with 18 years of experience in education, admits she is a little biased. “The program exposes them to the profession and challenges their prior conceptions about teaching and learning. We also expand their knowledge beyond the brick-and-mortar buildings to include online teaching, providing continuing ed for companies such as Beck’s and Gaylor, and even showing them how organizations like the DNR utilize educators in their profession.”

Three of Heights’ current program participants took a few minutes to share what they learned or liked best about their first field day experience. Junior Averie Scott said she enjoyed learning how to enter grades. Senior Max Bowman liked reading to students, and Jackson Cantlon liked the opportunity to use the whiteboard to teach the kids math.

Hippensteel says this program is of utmost importance as it plays a crucial role in educating the next generation of teachers.

“We need programs that introduce high school students to the teaching profession,” she added. “By providing real-world, firsthand experiences, students can better decide if this is a profession they would like to pursue or not. At the same time, students are earning college credits that will count toward their college education to teacher licensure. It’s win-win.”