"I like sharing knowledge," says Justin Monson, a student at Palm Desert High School. "I like teaching them new ideas. When I do this, I feel like I am on top of the world!"
Justin is just one of many students who participated in the pilot program of Club Ed: Teachers for Tomorrow.
Developed by CTA in response to the statewide teacher shortage, Club Ed is designed to encourage interested students to enter the teaching profession. Of special concern to California is the widening gap between the number of minority students and the diversity of the state's teaching population. The total ethnic minority student population is 62.2 percent and continues to rise while the number of ethnic minority teachers lags at 23.2 percent.
Club Ed focuses on recruiting ethnic minority students like Jose Ortega at Palm Desert High School. "My heart is to teach high school. I have more of a flair for older kids. I am a patient person, but it takes a lot of energy to work with younger kids."
There has been such a demand for the program that Club Ed is now expanding around the state. Club Ed kits include information on all the basics for establishing a club on middle and high school campuses - the role of the advisor; how to recruit students; how to involve the local CTA chapter, Student CTA members and the community; sample meeting activity ideas; posters, buttons and pencils.
To request a kit, check with your chapter president for the Club Ed Order Form; look for it on the CTA Web site [www.CTA.org]; or call (650) 552-5345.
Gail Watts