Rock Falls

Education Pathway students attended a Future Teachers Conference at ISU on Oct 22. The students attended various workshops and a table fair to learn more about teaching.

RFHS leads students down a pathway to a career in education

By Heidi Ripley

Rock Falls High School began an Education Pathway this year for its students.

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, in 2021 the state will have about 1,700 unfilled teaching positions. Due to this growing shortage of teachers, the State of Illinois has initiated an Education Pathway that gives students a path to follow starting in high school that will allow them to earn an education endorsement on their diploma to prepare them for a career in the field of education.

To receive the endorsement, students will complete education-focused coursework, including Dual Credit courses in education, and have completed a minimum of 60 hours of hands-on experience working directly with students. The student gains both technical and essential employability skills provided throughout the endorsement process. This opportunity provides students with early learning in the field of education that will give them a leg-up when they enter postsecondary education.

Shay Brown, Agent 313 First Avenue Rock Falls, IL 61071 815-625-5100 Email: shay@shaybrown1.com Website: www.shaybrown1.com

Here to help life go right.

Whether you need a question answered, a problem solved, or a claim reported, my job is to make it happen.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. ®

CALL ME TODAY.

EDUCATORS cont’d from page 35

RFHS has six students enrolled in the education pathway — four seniors and two juniors — and is taught by Heidi Ripley. The students are enrolled in EDU 105, a dual credit course from Sauk, and are also working on the Education Pathway endorsement.

Students attend class at RFHS on Monday and Friday and are placed with mentor teachers Tuesday thru Thursday at Montmorency Grade School and at Rock Falls District 13. At these schools, the high school students assist their mentor teachers in the classroom as needed.

Senior Ellie Wasson, who was placed at Dillon School in a kindergarten classroom, said “I help students stay on task and I assist the teacher in group activities.”

Said Senior Hailey Vos: “I was in the first grade and I came in during their math stations. I supervised a station of a small group of kids and we played games like equation card games, or subtraction bowling, and solved equations with unifix cubes.”

When students were asked why they wanted to be a teacher, junior Alyse Bryant said, “There are many reasons I would love to be a teacher. I love kids, and I have always loved to help others. The most amazing thing to me is seeing the kids’ faces brighten when I help them finally understand something. I also love working with the kids and taking my time to give them a deep understanding of the topic.”

During the semester students will not only assist the mentor teachers in the classroom but also teach a lesson. They will also complete a team-based challenge in which they will identify a problem schools face, research the problem, and suggest a solution.

When asked what she hopes to gain from earning this endorsement, senior Breanna Morgan said, “During the pathway experience I hope to become more confident in front of others. I also hope to learn the good attributes I need to become an effective teacher.”