Area high school students complete weeklong Future Leaders in Education Camp

Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.

“I felt so terrified, but also so proud of myself, ” said Brinda Federici of Luzerne.

First came the fear, when Federici saw the ropes at Camp Kresge and realized they’d take her much higher than her comfort level allowed. The pride came later, after she’d defied her fear of heights and participated in the ropes course with the rest of the teens in her group.

Someday, she believes, she’ll be a better teacher because of this experience.

“When I have another challenge,” she predicted, she’ll face it with extra confidence.

That’s just one of the success stories that came out of a weeklong Future Leaders in Education Camp sponsored by King’s College, the United Way of Wyoming Valley and Building Blocks Learning Centers.

Eleven high school students who expressed interest in becoming teachers — including Federici — took part in the camp and were honored at a closing ceremony on Friday at King’s Sheehy-Farmer Student Center.

“They all have individually amazing potential,” said Zubeen Saeed, president and CEO of Building Blocks Learning Centers, adding that someday these students might serve internships or eventually become full-time staff at her learning centers.

One of the students specifically interested in preschool education is Kody Cox, a student at West Side Career and Technology Center in Pringle.

“When I look back on my preschool, I always wanted to go back,” Cox said, noting she’d like to create equally happy memories for preschoolers in her future classroom.

The Future Leaders in Education Camp spent the week engaged in activities guided by Sue Williams, a kindergarten teacher from the Dallas School District, and Matt Ide, a STEM and social studies teacher at Bear Creek Community Charter School. During daily field trips they learned about the educational programs at The Lands at Hillside Farms, climbed ropes, made pottery and even threw axes.

“That was a good stress-busting activity,” student Taytum Baranowski from Riverside Junior/Senior High School said of that last activity.

At the conclusion of camp, students accepted certificates during their awards luncheon, and Dara Soljaga, associate dean of education at King’s, had the pleasure of telling them each would receive an iPad to help further their educational pursuits.

“You get an iPad, and you get an iPad, and you get an iPad,” she said, imitating the style of talk show host Oprah Winfrey’s famous gift of a car to each member of a studio audience.

The United Way contributed $20,000 to fund the camp, Wyoming Valley president and CEO Bill Jones said, explaining the agency considers it a good investment in combating the teaching shortage in Pennsylvania as well as potentially creating a more diverse pool of teachers.

Offering encouraging remarks to the Future Educational Leaders, Jones told them that while doctors and lawyers are among the most respected professions in our society, India reserves the greatest respect for those in the field of education, because without teachers you don’t have any professions.

“I love the way they put the camp together,” said Kelly Frail of Plymouth, whose daughter Riley was a camper. “It was so well organized, and they really pulled her out of her shell.”