Fifteen current and former students of Camden High School used their strengths to support students in classrooms of Bethune Elementary School during this past summer school session. They included first, second and third year students of the Education Pathways Program at Camden High who were employed by Minneapolis Public Schools, each paired with one teacher at Bethune.
These future educators used literacy strategies to build vocabulary as they engaged students who represented many cultures breaking stereotypes while building curriculum. A program coordinator says, “These student interns brought life into the classroom with their patience and empathy. They taught the youngsters social and communication skills using the power of positive emotions.”
The group of future educators were lauded for being the teacher they always wanted, for being the teacher who made them feel good. Two of the interns went above and beyond what was expected of them as they stepped into the shoes of a “lead” or host teacher who did not join the teaching staff for several days. Intern Pakou shared with us, “I barely liked kids, now I love them. Education should be about equity. Every kid is truly different. We had so much responsibility. We guided our students.” Malek especially liked teaching someone he connected with, helping students in story telling groups, and helping them write and communicate.
The staff of four who directed this summer school program, Philip Adenodi, Nafeesah Muhammad, Katrinka Zachery and Shelia Webb, were extremely proud of the 15 Camden High students and alumni. They used the following descriptive words and phrases to describe the interns: enthusiastic, active listeners, compassionate, relationship builders with students, bringers of a sense of humor into the classroom, amazing, committed, responsible, energetic, beautiful inside and out, protectors, advocators. The coordinators and host teachers said that the Camden interns engaged with students and encouraged them to be engaged with others. It was noted that they were respective and acceptive of feedback and aware of utilizing social emotional skills.
We were told at this honoring reception that the 15 future educators came alive as teachers. Several were hesitant about considering education as their vocation but ended up bringing life into the classrooms. One staff member stated, “They were teachers. They came alive as teachers which is something inside that can’t be taught.”
Perhaps you, as a reader of this story, know of a student who may want to learn about or consider a career in education. Contact the Education Pathways Department at Camden High where students attend classes designed by MCTC for credit.
Thank you, Sandra Ness and Philip Adenodi, for your passionate commitment to the Education Pathways Program at Camden High and its students. We will miss you.