AfTEr high sChOOL
Lifelong
Learning
eDUcation after high school is especially
important for teachers and trainers.
T
utoring children in reading or working Community College A bachelor’s degree from a four-year
as a camp counselor or teacher’s aide This does not necessarily mean that all university and teacher certification qualify
can help students decide whether students interested in Education & Training students to teach in the public schools. Texas
they want to teach and can help to develop must focus their career preparation on four- colleges and universities do not offer degrees
teaching skills. The ultimate road to year universities. in education. Every prospective educator
becoming an educator, however, begins with At the community college level, students must have an academic major, as well as
higher education after high school. can get degrees that qualify them to work teacher preparation courses.
“The courses and extended learning as a child-care professional. For example,
experiences in college,” says Jennifer they can be certified to become a child-care university Preparation
Bergman, a 2004 graduate of Trinity worker, an educational aide, or a special Don’t skimp on your university preparation,
University in San Antonio, “helped me education aide with a two-year associate’s advises Karen Kallas, a teacher at Birdville
develop skills I knew I would need in the degree or a one-year certificate. High School in North Richland Hills.
classroom, such as child development and However, Belcher points out, “these Kallas, who specializes in family and
teaching styles.” programs do not allow the individual to consumer sciences, says that in college
A broad range of well-planned and teach, only to assist or aid in the classroom.” “I tried to make sure I had a strong
supervised college-level instruction and The two-year Associate of Arts in background in all areas associated with
field experiences in an educational setting, Teaching (AAT) degree offered in Texas family and consumer sciences.
advises Letitia Killman, curriculum community colleges allows students “For instance, the nutrition and food
specialist at Texas Tech University in interested in classroom teaching to begin science-related areas require a strong
Lubbock, “is the best way for a student to their preparation at a community college science knowledge base, so I took my college
prepare for a career in education after he or and then transfer to a four-year university chemistry and microbiology classes very
she graduates from high school.” to complete their studies. This often enables seriously. Rather than take the general
In fact, says Aleta Belcher, assistant students to save money on the first two math course that was required, I took
professor of secondary education at Sul years of their education. college calculus.”
Ross State University in Alpine, “all teachers
of academic subjects in Texas public schools
must hold a bachelor’s degree.”
THe need for TeacHers
Is parTIcularlY greaT In maTH,
scIence, specIal educaTIon,
foreIgn languages,
TecHnologY applIcaTIons,
and bIlIngual educaTIon.
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