More than 300 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools high school students spent the day at UNC Charlotte recently to explore careers in teaching. Hosted by the College of Education, Future 49ers Teach painted a picture of the teaching profession and of student life at UNC Charlotte.
COED teacher recruiter Kelli Garbett coordinated the event. She said she struck by the record turnout. “It's quite inspiring to say the least; it makes the future of education seem even brighter. Despite real challenges in public education at this point, those who are planning to be teachers are clearly dedicated, selfless and philanthropic young people.”
A principal present at the program said it had drawn enthusiastic reactions from his group. “It really is a great event. The students are having a blast.”
The day’s sessions included:
- Why Teaching?
- Impact of Diversity on Education
- Admissions at UNC Charlotte
- Q & A with a Student Panel
- Active Teaching Strategies
- Information for Parents
- The IDEAL Learning Community
Those who attended the “Why Teaching” session broke into small groups and discussed what attracts them about the profession.
“You can impact people’s lives. You take care of them, and in turn they take care of you,” said one student. “It’s an exciting career where something new is happening every day,” added another.
The largest breakout sessions of the day amassed for conversations with the student panel. The panel answered questions on where to live, what classes are like and why they chose UNC Charlotte.
Following a series of small group campus tours, Future 49ers Teach closed out with a keynote address from UNC Charlotte alumnus Justin Ashley, 2013 North Carolina Teacher of the Year in Social Studies and History. The atmosphere alternated between rapt silence and raucous laughter, as Ashley took them through his progression from college troublemaker to award winning educator, sharing what teaching means to him along the way.
Ashley said his first year of college was one of low grades and hijinks (“I went from streaking then, to public speaking today”) and he was nearly kicked out of North Carolina Teaching Fellows program. That’s when Teaching Fellows Director Misty Hathcock gave him a second chance, and Ashley turned it all around.
Now, he has statewide teaching awards and a viral video to his name and is about to publish a book to help teachers avoid burnout. But above all else, Ashley told the students “waking up and wanting to do your job is worth it.”
Garbett, the UNC Charlotte teacher recruiter, said many in the crowd seemed to have taken this message to heart.
“I remember a conversation I overheard between a teacher and a student. She looked at him and said ‘So has this helped make your decision?’ He looked at her and said 'Oh for sure. I know without a doubt now that I'm definitely going to be a teacher now.’”