A One-Way Ticket to the Lone Star State

When senior Brianna Ware heads to Houston to complete her student teaching in October, she’s buying a one-way ticket. 

“In Houston, they actually have billboards that say, ‘Do you want to teach? When can you start?’” said Ware.

In May, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) had 400 vacancies, and it is just one of several school districts serving the city and its population of more than two million people. To meet the demand, HISD and other school districts including the Aldine Independent School District are encouraging education majors from around the country to visit Houston and its schools.

One-Week Interns Board with Administrators
Those visits are personal. “Student interns are invited to participate in a one-week placement in an urban school setting,” Andrew Papke, senior recruiter for HISD, wrote in an e-mail. “They are hosted by district administrators during their visit.” The brief visit introduces the student to the possibility of becoming a teacher in Houston. Students who do their student-teaching in Houston successfully are hired.

During the placement, each intern gets hands-on training from a master teacher and, by the end of one week, shifts to being the lead teacher in the classroom. “The student intern is encouraged to be creative and take risks, so they learn it is OK to make mistakes, as this is what makes a good teacher great,” Papke wrote.

Ware’s first visit took place in May. “I went in to teach in a second-grade class on Monday,” said Ware, “and my mentor was amazing at giving suggestions. It wasn’t all simple lesson plans; the class had arts and activities, and the teacher used a lot of technology.”

Dean Paterson Shares Opportunity with Students
Ware learned about the Houston program in an e-mail from School of Education Dean Wendy Paterson, who worked with HISD to establish the opportunity for Buffalo State students interested in pursuing teaching careers outside of the local area. “Many of our students want to stay local,” said Paterson, “but we encourage them to take advantage of the opportunities Buffalo State offers to travel and learn.”

“Buff State is really good for giving you classroom experience so you can make the right decision about a major,” Ware said, who chose early childhood education. “When I worked with kindergartners, I really enjoyed it. They are little people with big personalities who have a lot to say. And I believe that if children have a good start they can make better choices.”

Ware hopes to teach in a school with a higher poverty level. “I want to have the opportunity to make a difference,” she said. “I want my students to come to school and learn because it will be the best part of their day.”