Kansas helps high school students explore teaching careers
Kansas high school students will get to experience what it takes to be a teacher at the Kansas Future Teacher Academy in Emporia June 19-23. The academy will consist of 45 students and will be held on the Emporia State University campus.
This year's academy is funded in part by the Kansas legislature. This is the 16th year for the Kansas Future Teacher Academy. Another session of the Kansas Future Teacher Academy was held at Dodge City Community College July 17-21, 2005. This is the fifth year the academy has been offered in both Emporia and Dodge City. The KFTA is coordinated by the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence at ESU.
"The goal of the academy is to expose high school students in Kansas to the rewards of the teaching profession," said Scott Waters, director of the ESU academy. "Having two locations allows students to benefit from this exciting opportunity without having to drive great distances."
Students are accepted into the academy based upon their academic standing, involvement in school and community activities, and interest in exploring a career in teaching.
Participants will be involved in numerous activities during the week, including those centered on opportunities in education, problem-solving and leadership skills, personal goal setting, and technology in education. They will tour the National Teachers Hall of Fame and will get to meet 1994 NTHF inductee Rich Ruffalo. Besides being a former teacher, Ruffalo is a track and field athlete who set new world records in the Paralympic Games after losing his eyesight.
The U.S. Department of Education predicts that within the next 10 years, the national will need 2.2 million new teachers in the classroom. This is due to the aging of the current teacher population and the lowered requirements for retirement negotiated in teacher contracts.
For more information about the academy, contact Terri Weast at 620-341-5372 or Scott Waters at 620-341-5764.
2005 Kansas Future Teacher Academy Participants:
High School - Student Name(s)
Anderson County - Mercedes Harrison
Andover - Kate Cooper
Atchison - Amanda Ellerman
Beloit - Autumn Scoggan, Kristen Thompson
Bonner Springs - Amber Waite
Campus - Justin Martens
Circle - Kacee Carson, Michelle Wilhelm
Clearwater - Codie Logan
Council Grove - Brittani LeMay
Derby - Robert Swinson
Dodge City - Tami Durler, Victoria Leonard, Jose Villarreal
Elk Valley - Desiree Hinton
Greensburg - Danielle Donoho
Hoisington - Rebecca Crotinger
Holton - Kyle McKinney
Hutchinson - Rachel Allen
Junction City - Jacqueline Graves
Lansing - Sara Wingerd
Lawrence - Madeline Fister
Leavenworth - Katie Anderson
Lyndon - Mariposa Dopp
Mill Valley - Nicole Harper, Tyler Mann
Newton - Julius Salas
Norwich - Anthony Welters
Olathe East - Christie Jones
Olathe NW - Stephanie Ham, Joel Martinez, Kendra Meyn
Perry Lecompton - Veronica Pringle
Riverton - Tara Wheeler
Shawnee Heights - Staci Smoot
Shawnee Mission North - Amber Roan, Kyley Zumalt
St. Thomas Aquinas - Katie Ebmeyer, Taryn Kellar, Tracy Vacinek
St. Paul - Brandi Maples
Uniontown - Lacey George
Wabaunsee - Dawn Zeller
Wyandotte - Jessica Enochs
Last Updated July 2, 2007>