Nine students in the Teacher Education Program at Bluefield College recently completed a semester of on-the-job training as student teachers in local school systems.
As part of the college’s mission to prepare innovative learners and transformational leaders through a liberal arts education, the student-teacher program offers BC teacher education majors vital hands-on training as they prepare to become tomorrow’s teachers.
Often described as one of the most rewarding aspects of the teacher licensure training at Bluefield College, the student-teaching component provides “in the classroom” experiences for BC seniors, who work and learn alongside teachers who have been in an actual classroom setting for many years.
“It’s a valuable opportunity for students to practically apply various theories presented in the college classroom,” said Dr. Donna Watson, chair of BC’s Division of Education, which recently received national recognition through accreditation with the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC).
Lyndsey Barton of Vinton, Virginia; Ashley Clampitt of Chilhowie, Virginia; Erica Coleman of Vansant, Virginia; Christopher Keller of Midland, Virginia; Kristin Neal of Pocahontas, Virginia; Yvonne Sigman of Bastian, Virginia; Samantha Sturgill of Chilhowie, Virginia; Meagan Whittington of Richlands, Virginia; and Derek Wright of Tazewell, Virginia, all spent the spring 2011 semester providing much needed assistance to local schools, while at the same time getting valuable practical experience as teachers in the classroom.
Barton, the daughter of Greg and Tammy Barton of Vinton, taught at Graham High School in Bluefield, Virginia, and Rocky Gap Elementary School in Rocky Gap, Virginia. A graduate of William Byrd High School in Vinton, Barton is a member of the Student Virginia Education Association (SVEA). She also competes in varsity softball and varsity cross country at Bluefield College.
Clampitt, the daughter of Robert and Karen Clampitt of Chilhowie, completed student teaching at Dudley Primary School and Graham Intermediate School, both in Bluefield, Virginia. A graduate of Chilhowie High School and Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon, Virginia, Clampitt is also a member of SVEA and Alpha Delta sorority. In addition, she is a Bonner Scholar and a frequent member of BC’s Academic Dean’s List.
Coleman, the daughter of Eric and Teresa Coleman of Vansant, was a student teacher at Richlands Middle and Richlands High Schools. Before BC, she attended Grundy High School in Grundy, Virginia, and Southwest Virginia Community College in Richlands. She is a member of SVEA, the Alpha Chi National Honor Society, and the Phi Beta Lambda business organization. She also is a frequent member of BC’s President’s and Academic Dean’s List.
Keller, the son of Eric and Teresa Keller of Midland, taught at Tazewell Middle School and Bluefield High School in Bluefield, West Virginia. A graduate of Fresta Valley Christian School in Marshall, Virginia, Keller is president of BC’s Phi Psi Omicron fraternity and a member of SVEA and the select voice ensembles, Variations and Praise Signers.
Neal, the daughter of Jerry and Kimberly Shupe and the wife of Kyle Neal, all of Pocahontas, took part in student teaching at Rocky Gap High School and Bluefield Middle School in Bluefield, West Virginia. A graduate of Pocahontas High School, Neal is a member of SVEA and BC’s President’s and Dean’s Lists.
Sigman, the daughter of Timothy and Edna Blevins of Spanishburg, West Virginia, and R. Bruce Stanley of Middletown, Delaware, and the wife of Todd Sigman of Bastian, taught at Rocky Gap Elementary School. Before BC, Sigman attended Princeton Senior High School in Princeton, West Virginia, and Wytheville Community College in Wytheville, Virginia, where she was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society. At BC, she is a member of SVEA and the President’s and Dean’s Lists.
Sturgill, the daughter of Vernon and Libby Sturgill of Chilhowie, completed student teaching at Graham High and Rocky Gap Elementary Schools. A graduate of Chilhowie High School, Virginia Highlands Community College and Wytheville Community College, Sturgill’s extracurricular activities at Bluefield College include SVEA and the Art Club. She has also been named to BC’s President’s and Dean’s Lists.
Whittington, the daughter of Wayne Whittington of Richlands, completed student teaching at Tazewell Elementary School. A graduate of Richlands High School and Southwest Virginia Community College, Whittington is a member of SVEA.
Wright, the son of Leonard and Linda Wright of Tazewell, taught at Graham High and Graham Middle Schools. Before BC, he attended Tazewell High School and Southwest Virginia Community College. At BC, he was a member of SVEA and Phi Psi Omicron fraternity. He also was the recipient of the Frank S. Easley Award for Excellence in Business.
Since 1977, Bluefield College has graduated highly qualified educators who serve as outstanding teachers and administrators in public and private schools in Virginia and across the nation. In fact, this year alone, four BC teacher education graduates won Teacher of the Year awards in their respective schools, counties and districts.
“The training and personal attention I received at Bluefield College is what prepared me for a career in education,” said Raleigh-Liberty (WV) High School Teacher of the Year and Bluefield College alumna Leslie Lambert. “My success in the classroom can be attributed to the instructors at Bluefield College who took a personal interest in my success.”
Endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education and nationally accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC), BC’s Teacher Education Program offers undergraduate programs for teacher licensure in elementary and secondary education, art, health and physical education, music, biology, business, chemistry, English, history, information technology, mathematics, and social sciences.