Ed Prep Academy gives insight into the world of education

Kayla Ardon stood between two students and assisted as they worked through solving a math expression as if she was a pro and had been teaching all her life.

She was a guest in Samantha Escobar’s seventh-grade math class and is hoping to one day become a math teacher herself.

“Math is pretty easy for me,” the aspiring teacher said.

Kayla, a sophomore, was one of 15 scholars from Ossining High School who was visiting the Anne M. Dorner Middle School as part of the Ed Prep Academy. These scholars were at the middle school on March 3 to observe a variety of classes and see how teachers managed their classrooms. They were all wearing navy blue t-shirts and were required to take notes on what they saw.

The high school scholars were divided into small groups and observed math, history, science, English and other classes.

The academy is a pilot program offered this year, and those in the course can earn college education credits to SUNY New Paltz during their sophomore year.

“We are hoping to grow it,” ENL teacher Beth Testa said.

The class has also spent time visiting each of the district’s elementary schools too.

“They have to train their mind to walk the hallways as a future teacher,” Ms. Testa said. “They are really doing an amazing job. I just try to encourage them.”

Sophomore Joanna Gooden hopes to become a special education teacher, having been inspired by her eighth-grade teacher.

“I can help someone in life. It’s something I always wanted to do,” she said. Her visit to Brookside Elementary School earlier this year cemented her desire to pursue a career in education. “Since then,” she said. “I’ve wondered how it would be to teach older kids.”

The academy, begun at SUNY New Paltz, was originally created to encourage bilingual students to pursue careers in education.

“Hopefully it will be a grow-your-own program. That way they will want to come back and teach in Ossining. They will be my future colleagues,” Ms. Testa said.