Finding Solutions: Local students learn how to become teachers
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Nearly 300 high school students met at Augusta University’s campus for Future Georgia Educators Day.
It’s something done across the state to give high schoolers more insight into the teaching profession.
Organizers are finding solutions in how to get more teachers in the classrooms.
Teachers — they’re something we need more of.
“We do not have enough teachers in our state. Every year hundreds of classrooms remain vacant with just a substitute or a teacher who may not be highly qualified to teach that particular subject area and we’re not growing enough teachers in the state,” said Mary Ruth Ray, coordinator for Future Georgia Educator Day.
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That’s why the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, or PAGE, has made it their mission to host events like this.
“PAGE makes a concerted effort to hold FGE Day to bring in students from area high schools to a college campus exploring what it would be like to be a teacher,” said Ray.
Students are taken through various workshops learning about why they should teach, what it’s like to work at a middle school and even education jobs beyond teaching.
Daviney Tinker, a sophomore at Harlem High School, said: “It’s helpful because I can see how other people like it in the profession and how much you go through and what you do and how you inspire other people.”
Tyler Malloy, a sophomore at Lakeside High School, is looking to become a teacher and then eventually a principal.
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He says having more men in the profession is important.
“We need both men and women in this workforce because it’s mostly a female-dominated career path. But some students don’t have people in their life who are male role models, so if you have a man as a teacher, it can really help with that,” said Malloy.
Brooke Blunt, a junior at Columbia Virtual Academy, is already looking forward to the future and the message she wants to share with her future students.
“Even when no one believes in you just believe in yourself because you’re really the only person you will always have,” she said.
Students were also able to attend a college fair.
About 100 more students attended FGE Day compared to last year’s event.
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