Fairfield students can start on education career in high school

FAIRFIELD — Students at Fairfield High School will soon have the chance to start training for a career as a paraeducator or a teacher while they’re still in high school.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced last year that the state would embark on a first-in-the-nation Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Grant Program. According to a news release from the governor’s office, the grants would provide opportunities for current high school students to earn a paraeducator certificate and associates degree, and for paraeducators to earn their bachelor's degree, while learning and working in the classroom.

Fairfield Community School District Curriculum Director Stephanie Mishler said eight paraeducators in Fairfield schools are taking advantage of this program, meaning they are studying at participating universities to obtain their teaching licenses. The partnering universities are William Penn University, Buena Vista University and Western Governor’s University.

Mishler said that training paraeducators to become teachers is just one of the programs two prongs. The other prong is training high school students to become paraeducators. During Monday night’s Fairfield school board meeting, the board approved a memorandum of understanding for juniors and seniors at FHS to do an education apprenticeship program through Indian Hills Community College’s Education Academy. This would give the students on-the-job training as a paraeducator.

Mishler said the certification program to become a paraeducator lasts one year, so a senior at FHS could obtain their paraeducator training before graduating high school.

“If you are aspiring to be a teacher, this is an opportunity for you to get a head start on that while you’re still in high school,” Mishler said. “We’re trying to give kids options so they can explore different paths and develop the skills they’ll need to be successful in their postsecondary education.”

Mishler said this is a great way for Fairfield and other schools in the state to “grow its own talent,” by turning its students into future teachers. She said it is getting harder for school districts to find enough teachers to fill their positions, and this grant program from the state is a way to address that.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com