Special Programs - Future Educator's Academy
The Future Educator’s Academy is unique to North Middlesex in Massachusetts. It provides students with an opportunity to have an authentic experience in teaching as well as in meeting college level expectations before heading to college. The FEA consist of two courses, Foundations in Education I and Foundations in Education II. In the first course, students research what being a teacher really means, the standards and frameworks for courses they would like to teach, as well as the profile of a “good” teacher. The semester ends with job shadowing at the elementary, middle and high school level to help students ensure they are making the right decision if they do choose to continue exploring a career in education.
Those students who have found after Foundations of Education I that they want to consider teaching as a career, continue on in Foundation of Education II. This course delves deeply into lesson planning, unit development, assessment, classroom management and ends with several days of student teaching. Throughout this time, students will participate in a weekly job shadow at the grade level of their choice, to help ensure an authentic experience in the career field. Students have an opportunity to travel to a college to compete with other FEA students, mainly from New Hampshire, in a lesson plan competition. We celebrate the completion of their course with a ceremony in which students share their experiences with friends and family.
We have had much success with the Future Educator’s Academy; our students have worked incredibly hard and have reaped the benefits of their efforts!