AchieveTexasinAction
Ready,Set,Teach!
FortBendIndependentSchoolDistrict
www.fortbend.k12.tx.us
“There’sadifferencebetweenlovingtolearn,andloving
toteach,”saysLindaAiello,wholeadstheReady, Set,
Preparation
Teach!programatClementsHighSchoolinSugarLand.
Whilesomecareerpreparationmaytake
“Manystudentsenjoyschoolandassumethey’llequally
placeinhighschools,underthe
enjoyteaching.Somestudentsstartineducationcourses
AchieveTexasconcept,postsecondary
andrealizethey’renotmeanttoteach.They’reusually
educationortrainingisthecriticaltimefor
gratefultohavediscoveredthatbeforemakingithalfway
studentstogetreadyforemployment.This
throughcollege.”
maymeanattendingafour-yearuniversity,a
Ready, Set, Teach!isatwo-prongedinitiativeinthe
two-yearcollege,doinganapprenticeship,
FortBendIndependentSchoolDistrict.Theprogram “Kidsaregoingto
joiningthemilitary,orparticipatinginon-
consistsofalabcourseandacareerpreparation
collegeknowing
the-jobtraining.
course.Itisdesignedtogivejuniorsandseniorsboth
theclassroominstructionandreal-worldexperienceto
whatthey’redoing.
CareerAdvancement
decideifacareerineducationisrightforthem.
They’vemadea
Educationdoesnotendwithhighschoolor
DuringtheEducationalAssistantcourse,students
collegegraduation,completingan
explorethefieldofteachingthroughobservation,
connectionbetween
apprenticeship,orleavingthemilitary.In
analyzingcurrentissues,andusingtechnologyfor
today’sworld,individualsneedtokeep
researchandpresentations.Studentsshadowteachers,
theireducationsand
learningthroughouttheirlifetimetoremain
principals,andcounselors,andassistwithinstruction,
howthey’lluse
competitiveintheircareers,tobenefitfrom
preparationofmaterials,andgroupactivities.Students
increasedlongevity,andtoenhancetheir
jointheTexasAssociationofFutureEducators(TAFE),a them,andthey’re
civicinvolvement.Texaspostsecondary
semi-professionalorganization,andcompleteacareer
institutionsarefilledwithadultsseekingto
developmentpackageforcollegeadmission,which
confidentintheir
buildtheirportfolioofskills,improvetheir
includestakingtheSATand/orACT.
abilities.”
abilitytoconceptualize,andgainknowledge
ThesecondpartoftheprogramistheEducational
sotheymayearnmoremoney,apromotion,
AssistantCareerPreparationCourse.Eachschoolday,
—Linda Aiello,Ready,Set,Teach!
oramoresatisfyingjob.
studentsattendtheirregularhighschoolclasses,
Coordinator,ClementsHigh
School
EveryTexascitizenmustbeableto
followedbyoff-sitefieldexperiencethatsendstheminto
achievehisorhergreatestpersonaland
districtclassroomstoteachtheirfavoritesubjects— whileearningasalary.Primarilyatarea
professionalpotential.
elementaryschools,studentsassistwithinstructionandaregiventheopportunitytodevelop
activitiesandteachlessons.Thecareerpreparationcourserequires270hourspersemester(or
540accumulatedhoursfortheyear)andisconsideredthehonorsportionoftheprogram.
Studentparticipantsgetmorethanexperience.FortBendhasanagreementwithTexasA&M
UniversitythatgrantsstudentsonesemesterofpaidtuitionforeachyearspentinReady, Set,
Teach!instruction.
“Whenourstudentsgotocollege,”saysAiello,“theyknowwhatthey’redoing.Atmost
schools,studentsdon’tenterthecollegeofeducationuntiltheirjunioryear,butthesestudents
enterasfreshmenhavingalreadytaughtinaclassroom.”
The“free”semestersarepayingoffalready,asmanyofAiello’sformerstudentshavereturnedto
FortBendISDtoteachandtomentoranewclassofstudents.Anotherpartoftheprogram
guaranteesdistrictteachingpositionstoReady, Set,Teach!graduatesoncetheyarecertifiedtoteach.
“ThebestadvantageofReady, Set, Teach!”saysAiello,“isthatitgivesstudentsthechanceto
learninareasofpersonalinterest.Theygettodotheirowndiscoveriesandfindoutalotabout
themselves.Theygainarealsenseofself.”
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