CTE
Program Areas
- Have and maintain a minimum 2.7 grade point average or its equivalent;
- Submit three satisfactory teacher recommendations; and
- Submit a brief essay and application.
- To identify, train, and nurture high school students interested in a teaching career;
- To support the efforts of Virginia's school divisions to meet hiring targets by cultivating an effective "grow your own" recruitment program;
- To create a high school curricular experience designed to foster student interest, understanding, and appreciation of the teaching profession; and
- To attract students to teaching in critical shortage and high needs areas of the state.
- An introduction to teaching and the teaching profession;
- Opportunities to satisfy beginning teacher assessment requirements;
- Potential dual enrollment credit;
- Scholarship information;
- Field trips;
- Classroom observations;
- Educational leadership opportunities;
- Teaching experience before college;
- Opportunities to make a difference in a student's life; and
- Meaningful, creative, hands-on learning activities.
- Experiencing learning;
- Experiencing the profession; and
- Experiencing the classroom.
Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Program
Virginia's statewide program for recruiting high school students into the teaching profession.
The availability of teachers in critical shortage areas and hard-to-staff schools continues to be a major challenge in the nation and in Virginia. Literature in this area suggests that while two million teachers may be needed nationally over the next ten years, traditional teacher preparation programs have only one million prospective teachers in the pipeline.
In Virginia, it is strongly felt that "grow your own" and high school programs capturing the interests of potential teachers may be one strategy toward resolving this challenge. As such, Virginia's Teachers for Tomorrow Program is offered to high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing a career in education. The program is designed to attract teacher candidates from high school students to the field of education through exposure to a world-class curriculum and hands-on experience that focuses on teaching. Students must complete the following eligibility requirements to be considered for enrollment in the program:
The Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow instructor is required to be a licensed teacher in the Commonwealth of Virginia and must also be trained to teach the Teacher Cadet curriculum, which is currently utilized in the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow classrooms. Training is supported by the Office of Career and Technical Education Services. A list of training sessions for 2008 can be found in Superintendent’s Memo INF #002.
www.doe.virginia.gov/info_centers/superintendents_memos/
2008/01_jan/inf002.html
More than 70 high schools in Virginia began the 2007-08 school year offering this program. If your school is interested in finding out how to start the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Program, please contact the Virginia Department of Education, Office of Career and Technical Education.
Program Purpose
In keeping with the challenge to increase the pool of highly qualified teachers, the purposes of the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Program are:
Program Benefits
In an era of teacher shortages, school divisions can identify potential teachers within their own schools. The Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Program is an excellent long-term recruitment strategy to increase the pool of candidates who will be able to fill critical shortage vacancies, increase the diversity of teacher applicants, and promote the hiring of local candidates who are more likely to remain within their school divisions. The program fosters respect for teachers and the teaching profession and provides high school role models for younger students.
Additional benefits for Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow candidates include:
Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Training
Curriculum training for the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Program covers two days. School representatives must receive this training before teaching the curriculum. The Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Program utilizes the South Carolina Teacher Cadet curricular model that focuses on the following three key areas of instruction:
The high school students will experience learning as individuals and as productive citizens as they explore new concepts and ideas. The students will experience the profession as they are guided through the history of education and the functions of schools and school divisions. Additionally, the students will experience the classroom as they become acquainted with teachers and teaching on a personal and professional level, including a brief internship in a classroom setting.
Below are some documents that can help you learn more about the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow program. If you have any additional quesionts, please contact the Office of Career and Technical Education at the Virginia Department of Education.
An Overview of the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Program
PowerPoint Presentation
Statewide Enrollment Numbers from 2002-2008
2007-2008 Roster of High Schools Offering the Program
Updated: Jan. 30, 2008
Teacher Cadets in the News:
"A Glimpse of the Future - Teacher Cadet from the perspective of a Broad Run HS Student"
"Rappahannock Community College event supports area teacher education efforts"
"A Happy Return for Former Potomac Falls Teacher Cadet"
"Mount Vernon HS Students Earn National Recognition at FEA Conference"
"Lynchburg College - Helping Future Teachers"
"Getting a Taste of Teaching - Isle of Wight"
"Students Who Could Become Teachers - Goochland High School"
Contact Information:
Office of Career and Technical Education
Virginia Department of Education
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120
804-225-2051 – Phone
