Special to the Register
RICHMOND — After four successful years, Eastern Kentucky University’s “Try Teaching” program is again accepting applications from mid- and second-career professionals who are intrigued about their potential in front of a classroom.
The nationally innovative program is geared to those who have doubts about leaving their current job behind to return to college for a second degree. It allows participants to gauge their comfort level as a classroom teacher before making a life-changing career move.
The program, funded by a $175,000 grant from Ashland Inc., has attracted 37 participants in its first four years. Each spent one or two weeks in a K-12 classroom, gaining first-hand experience as they assisted in the preparation and execution of lesson plans while learning successful educational practices from their teaching mentors.
Several from the inaugural group have decided to enter EKU’s Master’s in Teaching Program, which prepares and certifies individuals who hold non-teaching baccalaureate degrees, according to Dr. Cynthia Resor, coordinator of the MAT program and director of the “Try Teaching” program.
Theresa Brown, a system programmer for IBM, was partnered last year with Morton Middle School mathematics teacher Crystal Dixon in Fayette County. “It was worth a week’s vacation just to see the dedication to education of our city’s teachers,” Brown said. “‘Try Teaching’ gave me a chance to test the water. After a week at Morton, I knew teaching is something I want to pursue. I would recommend this to anyone considering a change in careers to teaching.”
Participants have the option of one- or two-week placements in elementary, middle and high schools throughout central and southeastern Kentucky, as close to home as possible.
In addition to classroom time with their mentoring teacher, “Try Teaching” participants will spend time with a university-level educator to learn more about certification procedures, the teaching profession and career benefits.
EKU officials hope the program will help those interested in making a career change to teaching.
“We need to be looking at alternate avenues for drawing qualified men and women from various backgrounds into the teaching field,” Resor said. “Teaching jobs are available in all subjects and grade levels, but there is a real shortage of math, science and foreign language teachers.”
EKU College of Education faculty and school district administrators work together to identify outstanding K-12 educators who will host participants in their classrooms. The host teachers will then be trained in effective mentoring techniques.
A preliminary screening will pre-qualify participants and reduce the risk that a participant would be ineligible for the MAT program. Those interested in the “Try Teaching” program will be asked to assemble educational transcripts, a professional resume and letters of recommendation, and will be interviewed to assess their overall disposition to teach. Also, before introducing anyone into a classroom setting, EKU will complete stringent state and federal background checks on all program candidates.
The application deadline this year is June 15. Because the number of participants will be limited, Resor suggested that interested individuals contact her as soon as possible at 622-2165 or at Cynthia.resor@eku.edu. More information is available at www.tryteaching.eku.edu.
