Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
From left, Portales High School sign language interpreter Iona Romero beams as Lindsey Steiner Elementary math and science teacher Bobbie McCandless hands PHS senior Joseph Stroud his lanyard with classroom observation credentials.
PORTALES - There were hugs, smiles and many words of encouragement Wednesday for a cadre of aspiring educators from Portales High School.
Educators Rising is a national organization established as a pipeline for students interested in becoming teachers. Locally, a new mentorship program and curriculum at PHS aims to bolster it with a mentorship program.
Science department chair and freshman honors biology teacher Rebekah Mitchell leads an elective class with college credit this year for 16 such seniors. Those students convened in a horseshoe formation Wednesday afternoon at the school's library to receive lanyards bearing credentials from 20 administrative and educational staff from the district to herald the start of this year's initiative.
The program consists of classroom observation, field experience and state competition on topics including impromptu speaking, creative lectures and research learning challenges.
Ideally, participants finish high school, join an educator prep program in the state and "then return to the district to teach," Mitchell told The News, but there's still value in it if things go differently.
"Realistically, some students may discover education is just not for them and that's OK," Mitchell wrote in a statement. "Since those students have viewed education from the driver's seat they can still serve as change agents in terms of eliminating the negative connotation that has been associated with this profession by contributing towards cultivating a culture of honor and regard for educators."
There were no negative feelings in Wednesday's meeting, though. Students took turns standing in front of the group and facing the one or two staff members with whom they're paired for the school year. The matches will meet periodically for advice and feedback on their progress in class and the field work/observation components.
Eastern New Mexico University also works alongside the program for a multi-organizational effort to combat a declining teacher population in districts across the state.
"What you're doing now is kind of what helped me to become a teacher," Assistant Superintendent Henry Montano told students during the Wednesday meeting.
Mitchell is herself a PHS alumnus and has returned to teach there the past nine years. By pairing interested students with career educators, she hopes the program can establish "a beautiful network of enthusiastic lifelong learners."
