According to CBSNews, a Penn State study found that 7.7 percent of the state’s teachers left their jobs in the year 2023. In an effort to channel more people into the field, a new two-year Secondary Education CTE program at Milton High School can offer students up to 21 college credits toward an education degree.
The new junior-senior program for aspiring educators is being added to the 2024-25 curriculum, said Co-principal Mr. Andrew Rantz.
“There’s really only going to be two classes that you need to take your junior year and your senior year, so it’s a two-year program,” he added. Students will take an introduction class in their junior year and a secondary-level class in their senior year.
“We’re still working on the plans. There will be in-class discussions, observations and reflections,” said Spanish Teacher Ms. Angela Hunter, who is helping to launch the program.
Because of an agreement with Commonwealth University, students who go on to attend that college’s education program will earn 15 credits, said Mr. Rantz. Students can also take PCNow classes and thereby earn up to 21 credits before even graduating from high school, he added.
According to Mr. Rantz, the new program was approved by the school board in January of 2023 and is included in the 2024-25 schedule. He added that the program will provide potential secondary teachers “a taste of what it looks like before they go off to college.”
The main goal of these courses is to get more students into the education field, said Mr. Rantz. “It’s dwindling, and we need to get more people into education,” he added.
“It’s going to give you some real-life experience in the profession. And before you even go to college, you’re going to get a taste of what it is and if it’s something you really want to do,” he added.
The program will be taught by the Spanish teachers of the school, said Mr. Rantz. “With the switch to an 8-period day, they will have the ability to take that program on within their course load,” he explained.
According to Ms. Hunter, Spanish Teacher Ms. Christine Rauch will oversee and teach alongside her in the program. After the first year, one of them will stay with the introductory class, and the other will do the second-level class, she added.
Any teacher in the high school is certified to teach this program, said Mr. Rantz.
