Future educators learn at Central Cambria High School

EBENSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Central Cambria School District superintendent said the teacher shortage in Pennsylvania has increased in recent years. When his school was offered the opportunity to launch a program that could work as a solution, he jumped at the chance.

With that push, the Aspiring Educators Program was born.

“This is what we feel is an innovative program in order to recruit our own basically within the Admiral Peary Vo-Tech consortium. We have eight sending schools and all eight of those schools have the ability to send students to Central Cambria High School through Admiral Peary Vo-Tech,” Jason Moore said.

The program is in its first year, and it’s also the first of its kind for Central Cambria.

“I know students usually have a negative outlook on learning, but I want to make it positive for them,” Izzy Terza, a student in the program said.

Terza is one of eight students in the Aspiring Educators program at Central Cambria.
She, alongside her classmates, represents three different school districts. Each of them is interested in the new program at the high school.

“I am really excited about this program and I think this is an amazing opportunity for future educators to get an early start before they begin their journey as an educator,” Leah Frederick, another student in the class said.

One of her classmates said the inspiration for her to join the program came from her early childhood.

“I had a kindergarten teacher that I was going through a lot, and she helped me through most of it just like setting an example for me. And now, looking back, I can really understand, what all she actually did for me,” Kaylie Bradley said.

The program lasts two years. When students complete the course, they will walk away with 24 education credits towards Saint Francis University to give them a head start on their degree.

“I’m excited to pursue this program and keep learning effective strategies I will one day use in my classroom to better the learning environment,” Emmalina Fishel, another student in the program, said.

“I think the nucleus of a community is your school. So when you have good schools and good teachers, you have good communities. And I just think we have the opportunity to make our communities prosper and have people educated and be the best that they can be no matter what they do,” Dr. Jackie Myers, a teacher at the program, said.

As of October 2023, education agencies across the Commonwealth reported over 2,000 teacher vacancies, a gap that a program like this could start to fill.

“When you become a teacher it can be difficult with the salary and high expectations, but it is all worth it when you succeed in helping the children learn and feel welcome,” Faith Long, a student said.

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Later this year, the students will teach lesson plans to Central Cambria elementary classrooms.

“I’m very excited for this program and for the opportunity it is giving me to get ahead in my life-long career,” Josephine McMullen, an aspiring educator, said.

For the second year of the program, students will do the field component, where they’ll make lesson plans and observe teachers in their home school districts.

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