Future Educators Get

By Mary Ruth Ray, PAGE College Services Representative

More than 300 Future Educators Association members advanced their knowledge of teaching strategies at the 2014 FEA Georgia Fall Conference. Gathered at Middle Georgia State College, the high school students also met with representatives from 29 Georgia colleges with teacher preparation programs.

In presenting the keynote, 2015 Georgia Teacher of the Year Amanda Miliner, a first-generation college graduate, said her strong relationships with teachers fueled her success. Workshop topics covered sensitivity to students, hands-on learning, cyberbullying, engaging students through learning styles and cultural connections to enhance the classroom climate.

Two participants shared their “FEA Moments,” the experiences that inspired them to pursue teaching. Kayla Thompson of Howard High School (Bibb County) credits FEA advisor Brittany Turner. Thompson said that she felt overlooked and unimportant for years until she landed in Turner’s class. “Mrs. Turner poured

everything that she knows about becoming an educator into me,” she said. “I soaked it all in.” Then, while volunteering as a tutor, Thompson encountered children who felt similarly overlooked. “Right then and there, I decided I’m not going to allow another child to feel this way and sink so low,” she added.

Shelley Hampton of Ware County High School credits her internship. “I found myself looking forward to that part of my day,” she said. “If I had any doubts about wanting to be a teacher, they went away as soon as I became ‘Miss Hampton’ and began working with my second-graders.”

In the “Ethics Knowledge Bowl,” chapters demonstrated their knowledge of the Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators. Lowndes High School, under the leadership of State Rep. Amy Carter, took first place, and Pike County High placed second. In other competitions, Spalding High School won the T-shirt design contest, followed by Lee County High School, and Howard High School won the banner design contest, followed by Hampton High School (Henry County).

FEA State officers presiding over the conference were President Raney Redmond (Lee County), SW Region Vice President Caroline Pope (Early County), SE Region Vice President Spencer Pipkin (Lowndes County) and North Region Vice President Will Panter (Fannin County).

PAGE thanks Loleta Sartin and her MGSC colleagues. Their time and talent made the FEA Fall Conference one of the best ever. n