Teacher Cadets is a high school course designed to
At Carolina Forest High School (CFHS), the Teacher Cadet Program is a college course offered through CERRA (Center for Educator, Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement) and Coastal Carolina University. It is designed to encourage academically talented and leadership-oriented students to explore teaching as a career. The class introduces students to the teaching profession by having them explore educational topics, observe teachers, listen to guest speakers, teach lessons, and complete an internship.This course started in South Carolina in 1985 and has grown throughout the nation.
Most students don’t realize that Teacher Cadets could be the perfect class for them at CFHS.
Ann Twigg, the teacher for Teacher Cadets, explained, “I feel Teacher Cadets is a wonderful opportunity for students to develop confidence and experience hands-on activities that are beneficial in life, whether someone plans to become a teacher or simply grow as a leader and role model. We also become very close in the class; we become family.”
The Teacher Cadets visit cluster schools in the Carolina Forest area to complete a short internship with a grade of their choice during the semester-long class. They learn from other teachers and gain experience.
Gabby Sarmiento, a junior who is currently taking the Teacher Cadet class at CFHS, said that her favorite part of the class is the internship.
“It gives me the experience, and it’s like a mini look at what teaching is like.”
Jakarius Ramsey, a junior Teacher Cadet, stated, “The pros of Teacher Cadets are experiencing the reality of teaching, making another student’s day, and it’s very rewarding and can create lesson plans.”
If you are a junior or senior and are interested in taking the Teacher Cadet class at CFHS, you will need to complete an application, have a 3.0 unweighted GPA, obtain three teacher references, and write an essay on why you want to learn more about an educational profession, particularly being a classroom teacher.
Abigail Lamfers, a junior taking the Teacher Cadet class, recommends it to students.
“As a student, I would recommend the Teacher Cadet class to anyone interested in it because it is a great learning experience and really gives you insight into what being a teacher looks like! It’s also really awesome because you get a field experience, which I think is truly the best part of the entire class.”
Teacher Cadets is a great class for students who are interested in teaching, social work, or a health profession that involves children and teenagers. It gives insight into education, school issues, leadership, and civic advocacy. Taking the class is a memorable experience that lasts a lifetime.
