Preschool Prepares Tomorrow’s Teachers Today

 

Heading into her junior year at Milwaukie Academy of the Arts, Ella Genzer knew she’d have a long list of important responsibilities—keeping up her grades in advanced-placement classes, helping take care of her younger sister at home, and even taking time to start thinking about college and career options post high school.  But her favorite responsibilities so far this year?

“Just helping these kids,” she says with a smile.  “As part of this program, I’m helping kids solve problems, make friends, and even write their names.”

Genzer is one of several NCSD high school students who spend two class periods a day teaching a group of cheerful, charming, and yes, sometimes a little chatty three- and four-year-olds enrolled in NCSD’s Sabin-Schellenberg preschool program.

“They can be a lot because they’re always running around,” laughs Clackamas High sophomore Paityn Schilling.  “I love seeing how creative they are and what they come up with.  Sometimes it’s completely different than what you’d think.”

What’s also different?  How this unique work experience offered in high school helps students gain skills that prospective teachers wouldn’t ever learn from a textbook. 

“I really want to become a teacher or a mentor someday,” says Milwaukie High junior Abby Wold.  “So I’m learning how to help kids with their fine motor skills, learn different colors and how to say the alphabet.”

The high school teachers earn even more responsibilities as the yearlong class progresses, eventually teaching full lessons all on their own.

“I want to be a kindergarten teacher someday, so this is perfect,” Schilling explains.  “I also went to preschool and know how helpful it was for me, so I want to be able to give back and help other kids.  They’re all so sweet.”

It’s also sweet to know Schilling and her classmates could be part of NCSD’s next generation of teachers in just a few short years.