Written by Kelsey Vickers, intern with The Messenger

The Troy-Pike Center for Technology will begin a new teachers program for high school students in the county this fall.

Julie Simmons, principal and director, said the new program will be an opportunity for high school students interested in majoring in education to learn about becoming educators pre-college.

“The program is open to all high school students in Pike County and is located on our campus,” she said.

Simmons said the teacher for the new program is Julie Echols, and they are “very excited to have her.”

Echols, family and consumer science teacher, said the program will be split into four levels.

“As of right now, we will start students off in the first level, which will be foundations in education,” she said. “Then they will move to teaching levels 1 and 2, and then complete an internship.”

Echols said the students will participate in a number of things, involving hands-on activities in creating lesson plans and learning how to become an educator.

Dr. Boyd English, principal of Charles Henderson High School, said their school has a partnership with Troy University and would therefore like to take advantage of the program.

“The university has one of the most recognizable education programs and we would like to offer that to our students,” he said.

English said because of the large number of CHHS graduates who have gone on to pursue education in college, he feels there will be a high interest among the students.

“Overall, we want to better prepare our students for pursuing education degrees in college,” he said.

Echols’ feelings on the program echoed those of English’s.

“I absolutely look forward to this opportunity,” she shared. “And I think this will give students a bridge from high school to college, to make it less daunting.”

Gina Hastings, teacher of cooperative education in center’s ‘Jobs for America’s Graduates’ program, said their program correlates with the new teaching program.

“J.A.G. gives students an opportunity to pursue their career goals,” she said. “The program helps develop different skills among students and helps them choose a career or program.”

Hastings said both these programs help prepare students for success and give them insight into what they want to do in the future.

“It will also give them an appreciation for work,” she pointed out. “Not only will it help them recognize their full potential, but it will give them the experience necessary when applying for jobs in the future.”

For more information, contact the Troy-Pike Center for Technology at 566-5395.