More than 35 students signed up for this two-hour a day course for a full year. Students receive a voctech credit toward graduation and can also earn college credits. During the first weeks of the class, students observe different grades, K-8. Next they choose between elementary and middle levels. Then they're matched up with a mentor teacher.
Students spend three days a week in their assigned classroom.
Here they get a chance to perform many classroom duties including observing, tutoring, grading, supervising and eventually teaching under the guidance of their mentor teacher. When they're not working with younger kids, the interns gather as a group at their Interlake classroom to discuss their experiences. Throughout the year, they also receive instruction on such topics as the learner, teaching strategies, the school system and the future of education and technology. Teaching Academy interns observe in Jerry Bailey's 7th gradeTillicum science classroom. It's a great avenue to steer high school students with a desire to teach, and it really solidifies their decision about whether to go into teaching or not.