Teaching Pathway Information Sessions for prospective teachers was held as a virtual workshop on Sept. 15 to improve students’ methods before entering the workforce.
Megan Kaplinsky, a teacher preparation coordinator, said many Long Beach City College students work as assistant teachers, after school program leads, summer camp counselors, mentors and tutors, and this workshop was intended to explore these opportunities.
The workshop presented volunteer opportunities as well as gave students the chance to meet with the Reading and Teaching Preparation Department.
“Facilitating students’ interests and allowing a lot of choices and options for them to open their eyes to a lot of possibilities, whether it be a counselor, administrator, etc. goes beyond a classroom and students can find a passion to make it into a reality,” Kaplinsky said.
“We have a shortage of substitute teachers,” said Kaplinksy, stressing the need for more students to enter this field amid an overall decline of teachers.
“What was lost is the ability to work in small groups, however, students definitely still need the connection and a sense of belonging as a feeling of their time being well spent,” said Kaplinsky.
Kaplinsky also discussed the importance of earning a Bachelor’s along with a teaching credential.
“That’s going to be the fast track, the most used track, because it gives you all that content that you need to know,” Kaplinsky said.
For many students trying to pursue a teaching career, volunteering is often a positive element to add to their resumes and to develop their skills. For this reason, LBCC is sponsored by Long Beach BLAST, one of the volunteer opportunities presented at the workshop.
The purpose of Long Beach BLAST is important in terms of giving support and recognizing the role of mentorship in a students’ life.
The program manager of Long Beach BLAST, Raul Vasquez said “There are two main programs we have in our organization, the academic mentoring program and the emotional support program.”
This opportunity is meant to shape a new path for students, opening the doors for more students to enter the teaching field.