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New Hazelwood High Schools Career Program Explores Teaching, Education
The Hazelwood School District is offering high school students the chance to learn what it takes to be an educator. Career Pathways for the Teaching Profession, or Exploring the Teaching Profession, is a junior and senior-level course approved by the HSD Board of Education for 2012-2013. It is offered within the career and technical education discipline.
The program is for students who have an interest in a career in education and enjoy working with people and sharing their skills and talents. Students will develop the knowledge and skills needed to communicate clearly, build relationships and motivate learners. Students will be exposed to a broad range of ages and theories related to education, and they will be required to observe in early childhood, elementary, middle and high school classes.
The program includes an internship for seniors who complete the prerequisite work. It will combine in-class coursework with onsite teaching practice. Onsite teaching projects include keeping daily logs or blogs, weekly journals, preparing and presenting a lesson, and working closely with students of an assigned teacher.
Teaching is projected to be one of the fastest-growing occupations over the next 10 years and beyond. The need for teachers in math, science, special education, foreign languages, technology applications and bilingual education is expected to increase.
Gail Stewart, learning facilitator for special areas, developed the curriculum with district teachers.
Suzie Dudenhoeffer, who teaches in the practical arts department at Hazelwood East High School, will lead a section of the course.
“This course will offer high school students the chance to develop a more accurate view of the teaching profession, and it will allow students to develop skills that will be necessary to be successful in this career field,” said Dudenhoeffer.
Students will have “real, practical experience in four different levels of education – preschool, elementary, middle school and high school – allowing them to determine which age group best suits them,” she said. “It allows experiences that will help them be more focused and successful in college when preparing for a career.”
