Aspiring Education program at Burrell gives head start to students who want to be teachers

At some point this school year, Laney Kaczor will be in a Burrell High School classroom, but not in her role as a student.

Kaczor, a junior at Burrell, is one of nine Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center students in a new Aspiring Education program with a satellite location at Burrell this year.

“I’ll be able to work with them instead of just being taught by them,” Kaczor said.

The new program takes students interested in a career in education from the career center’s four sending schools — Burrell, New Kensington-Arnold, Franklin Regional and Kiski Area — and places them in a satellite classroom at Burrell High School. There, they will learn more about the field and get real-world experience working with teachers.

“The intent of the curriculum is to train students to become highly qualified teachers,” said Jason Hicks, director of the CTC.

“We train the students early and give them a head start when they enter college.”

Hicks said there is a demand for the program, citing a nationwide teacher shortage. An October 2023 review from the National Center for Education Statistics found that 86% of public schools nationwide reported challenges in hiring teachers for the 2023-24 year. Barriers to hiring teachers included too few candidates and a lack of job applicants.

“Being more visible, other kids seeing that kids want to be teachers, is going to help,” said Anastasia McCallum, the program’s teacher. “If there’s a program in school and kids are thinking about (becoming a teacher), that might open up the opportunity more.”

McCallum said the program uses the EdRising curriculum. Students will be able to assist teachers at all levels, elementary through high school. There also is reflection on teaching practices from educators they have had while in school.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to explore the career,” McCallum said.

Similar programs exist at Central and Eastern Westmoreland CTCs, Hicks said. He said he has collaborated with directors at those schools to ensure similar success of the program in this area.

Students will earn college credits through the program.

“The goal is for them to go to college with several credits already done,” McCallum said.

Kaczor said the information she and her peers have learned has been beneficial.

“I hope to know more about how I can be inclusive in the classroom and find different ways to teach kids,” she said.

Sapphire Schreckengost, a senior at Valley, agreed.

“It’s an amazing opportunity,” she said. “I’ve known I’ve wanted to be a teacher for quite some time now. It gives us a lot of experience prior to going to college.

“I’m excited for the experience and learning more about what goes with teaching.”