LA PLATA, Md. (Dec. 08, 2009)—Charles County Public Schools held its second annual Future Educators Association (FEA) local conference on Friday, Nov. 20, at the College of Southern Maryland’s La Plata campus. More than 125 students participated in the event, which consisted of guest motivational speakers and workshops hosted by school system teachers and administrators.
Students participated in two 30-minute workshops, which ranged from learning about classroom management techniques and how to dress for success, to how to write a winning essay and implementing fun mathematics activities in the classroom. Students were able to choose from more than 13 workshops.
The event’s keynote speaker, Ben Glenn, otherwise know as the “Simple ADHD expert,” spoke to participants about the teaching profession and his experiences in the classroom. Glenn’s presentation focused on student leadership in which he stressed the importance of teachers acting as role models. “The best way you can be a leader and be an example for your students is to be a role model. My hope is that students will learn from the experiences that you have been through,” he said.
Students were also given an opportunity to fill out event evaluations, which included comments on workshop content, guest speakers and the connection to the teaching profession to assist the school system in planning for next year’s conference.
Awards were also handed out during the conference in three categories: centerpiece designs, essay writing and scrapbook competitions. Student teams from participating schools created centerpieces and scrapbooks, while the essay contest was judged on an individual basis.
Centerpieces were created by each school’s FEA chapter to represent school spirit. The winning design was selected from North Point High School. Two winners were selected for the essay contest. Georgette “Synade” Beason, an eighth grader at Milton M. Somers Middle School, was the middle school essay winner, and Morgan Gales, a senior from North Point, was the high school essay winner.
Both Beason and Gales, as well as Alexis Mitchell, eighth grader, John Hanson Middle School, and Tyler Warner, junior, Henry E. Lackey High School, will attend the national FEA conference in San Antonio, Tx., in February. Mitchell and Warner were selected to attend the national conference for their contributions to their school’s FEA chapter.
Each Charles County Public middle and high school has an FEA chapter for students in grades 6 – 12 who are interested in becoming educators. Student members are asked to pledge to serve as role models for their participation in FEA by promoting a positive attitude toward education to enhance the quality of educational programs.
Benjamin Stoddert Middle School has the largest FEA participation, with 43 members. Maurice J. McDonough High School has the second largest FEA chapter, with 38 members, followed by the Milton M. Somers Middle School chapter, with 38 members.
The FEA aims to motivate middle and high school students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in education while studying teaching, working to improve the image of teaching, boosting faculty morale and linking students, parents and the community together. Through hands-on career exploration opportunities, FEA members assume leadership roles and develop professional skill sets that will serve them throughout their careers.
Source: Charles County Public School System