Student teacher Amanda Randolph leads a book discussion with kindergarten students in her mentor’s classroom at Meyer Elementary School.
HOUSTON – Feb. 16, 2016 – Future teachers from local universities are learning all about teaching in Spring ISD schools this semester. The college students are getting classroom experience and a lot of support as they build solid foundations for their future teaching careers.
The student teachers work with regular classroom teachers and school principals as they refine their skills. They also meet with district administrators who want to see these future teachers make Spring ISD their home.
The program brings the teachers together to measure their success, provide coaching and other targeted professional development. During orientation, Kimberly Fonteno, Spring ISD officer of professional learning, led the student teachers in discussions about the district’s five-year strategic plan, EVERY CHILD 2020. She also encouraged them to reach out if they had a question or needed help. Fonteno said that while the student teachers are gaining work experience, they are also making decisions about where they want to begin their careers, and she wants them to consider Spring ISD. Some of them are Spring ISD alumni who already are hoping to return and give back to their community.
“It’s a recruitment opportunity for us. We work to create an environment that makes them want to be a part of the Spring family,” Fonteno said.
Chief Human Resources Officer Deeone McKeithan believes this is exactly how the district develops successful teachers. “We want student teachers to be aware of the support systems that we are putting into place in order to ensure that they are successful,” said McKeithan.
For more information about employment and teaching opportunities in Spring ISD, visit the Spring ISD website at www.springisd.org/recruitment.
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Video: Helping New Teachers Start Their Careers