Kelly Rush is one of the instructors for the Teacher Cadets class. Photo Cred: Miles Page
As of the beginning of the 2023 fall semester, Watauga High School is offering a brand new class: Teacher Cadets I Honors. Run by Ms. Scoggins and Ms. Rush, the Teacher Cadets class instructs high school students on how to operate in an educational setting, learn about the different types of students they may encounter as educators, and discover which field of instruction best suits their interests. In the second half of the semester, the cadets will go into elementary schools around the county to assist the teachers, as well as even teaching their own lessons.
Maddy Elmore, a senior at Watauga, signed up for the class. “I signed up for Teacher Cadets because I’ve been thinking about being a teacher since I started working at the Rec Center,” said Elmore, who works as a swimming instructor and lifeguard at the community recreation center. “Teaching kids how to swim has been a really interesting way to learn about the benefits of teaching, and it’s given me a better understanding of teaching as a job and how important it is for communities.”
Elmore stated, “I think learning about child development has been helpful,” citing her favorite lesson so far. “It helps [the cadets] understand the differences in children at different times in their lives, as well as showing us ways to teach those kids that are tailored to their skills and needs.”
Anna Deal takes the Teacher Cadets class as well.
“I signed up for this class because I’ve wanted to be a teacher ever since second grade, and I haven’t changed my mind,” said Deal. “When I heard it was being offered at the high school, I signed up because I wanted to see the experience of teaching and get a better understanding of learning styles to find what level works best for me.”
Outside of the class, Deal has an internship with Hardin Park School.
“My internship at Hardin Park is really fun,” Deal explained. “I help grade students’ papers, file documents for the teachers, and help students understand the assignments.”
Sarah Beth Green, a junior and another member of the Teacher Cadets class, runs the official Instagram page for the class.
“I think the class is very collaborative and group-centered,” says Green. “The students in the class aren’t really scared to talk in front of each other because we’re all working towards the same goal. Running the Instagram has been fun because I’m able to see how much interest there is in the class.”
The Instagram account’s handle is @whsteachercadets, and will be posting lessons taught in the class as well as the hands-on experiences in the classroom.
Ms. Scoggins and Ms. Rush are both excited to be teaching the class and encourage students interested in pursuing a career in education to sign up for the class. Watauga will be adding a Teacher Cadets II Honors for the 2024-2025 school year to further the education of its future teachers.
Carmen Scoggins also instructs the Teacher Cadet class.
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