Eight 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 program 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).
John Cettin of Bluefield, Virginia; Hannah Brooks of Bristol, Virginia; Holly Hudson of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Felicia Marmo of Palm Bay, Florida; Michelle Lynn Neel of Tazewell, Virginia; Brittany Sebring of Chesapeake, Virginia; Matt Snodgrass of Emory, Virginia; and Amanda Warren of Fredericksburg, Virginia, all spent the fall 2010 semester providing much needed assistance to local schools, while at the same time getting valuable practical experience as teachers in the classroom.
Cettin, the son of Patricia and Joseph Cettin, taught at Tazewell (VA) Middle and Tazewell (VA) High schools. In addition to his studies at Bluefield College, he is a member of the Student Virginia Education Association (SVEA). He also holds a bachelorís degree in history from Virginia Tech.
Brooks, the daughter of Lisa Brooks, taught at Graham Intermediate School in Bluefield, Virginia, and Whitethorn Elementary School in Bluefield, West Virginia. She is a member of SVEA and was named a Teacher of Promise by the Virginia Milken Educators Network and the Virginia Professional Educators Association.
Hudson completed her student teaching at Graham High and Graham Middle schools in Bluefield, Virginia. The daughter of Thomas and Catherine Hudson, she is a member of SVEA and received BCís English Achievement Award from the Department of English. She also was a member of the Lady Rams womenís varsity basketball team.
Marmo taught at Dudley Primary and Graham Intermediate schools in Bluefield, Virginia. The daughter of Lauri Heck, she is a member of SVEA, the womenís varsity volleyball team, and the womenís varsity softball team. She has also earned placement on BCís Academic Deanís List.
Neel, the daughter of Michael and Violet Neel, served as a student teacher at Rocky Gap (VA) Elementary School. Before Bluefield College, she attended Southwest Virginia Community College. She also is a member of SVEA.
Sebring taught at Springville Elementary School in North Tazewell, Virginia. She is a member of SVEA, has been named to BCís Academic Deanís List, and was also named a Teacher of Promise by the Virginia Milken Educators Network and the Virginia Professional Educators Association. She is the daughter of William and Nancy Sebring.
Snodgrass, the son of Wayne and Kathy Snodgrass, completed his student teaching at Glade Spring Middle and Patrick Henry High schools in Glade Spring, Virginia. In addition to his studies at BC, he was a student assistant coach for menís basketball. Now, he is head coach for junior varsity basketball and assistant coach for varsity basketball at Patrick Henry High School.
Warren completed her student teaching at Dudley Primary School in Bluefield, Virginia, and Bluefield Intermediate School in Bluefield, West Virginia. In addition to her studies at BC, she is a member of SVEA. She is the daughter of Ward and Carrie Warren.
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.
“Bluefield College is an excellent place for beginning teachers to explore the teaching world,” said alumna Bianca Adams, a Bluefield, Virginia, native and nine-year veteran of the teaching profession, who recently earned Teacher of the Year honors for Forsyth County Schools in North Carolina. “With great faculty and one-on-one, personalized attention, I grew in all aspects of my life. Bluefield prepared me for the types of obstacles and rewards I now encounter as a teacher.”
Also endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education and now joining the likes of Boston College, Michigan State University, Princeton University, Rutgers University, Temple University, and The University of Virginia with TEAC accreditation, 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.