For years, Geneva High School’s Teacher Assistant Program has been an extremely popular course for the aspiring future educators of GHS. So, when Geneva’s Family and Consumer Science teacher and head Educators Rising Adviser, Mrs. Sara Consdorf, announced that new improvement plans were being set in place for the upcoming school year, questions arose as to what the new program had in store.

In the past, students participating in the Teacher Assistant course would be matched with an educator of their request. During their assigned class period, teacher assistants would participate in activities such as passing out papers, answering questions, and assisting students in classroom activities.

Senior Kelsi Miller is currently a teacher assistant for both Mr. Brian Burn’s and Mr. Paul Thill’s freshman English classes.

“I don’t teach a ton,” Kelsi Miller said. “but I see his lesson plans sometimes, or he will come to me and show me what we are going to do for the day, or talk about if there is a student that is having an issue, he will come to me and explain, ‘This is what I would do…” in that situation.’”

Miller took part in the Teacher Assistant Program because of her hope to one day become a high school educator.

“I think it’s just preparing me for what it’s actually going to be like to teach in the future… just being able to watch what other teachers do; that’s really helpful,” Miller said.

Though the observational aspect of the classroom is critical in an educator’s preparation, Miller shared the improvements that hope to be made for the program during the second semester.

“It used to be called ‘TA [Teacher Assistant]’, but now it’s the ‘Teacher Internship,’” she said. “She [Mrs. Consdorf] will be going into the classrooms and actually watching you teach.”

After many years of having students only assisting teachers, Consdorf wants to change up the program. Planning to keep the basis of it the same while also adding a new highlighted aspect to the program. She wants the students to feel more involved, instead of working behind the scenes for the participating teacher, she is having students get in front of the class and teach the students.

“Students will spend 2-3 weeks with me in the classroom going through a crash-course on classroom management and teaching strategies,” Sara Consdorf said. “Then, students will go to their off-site schools to work with a classroom teacher and their students. Interns will observe, lead small groups and large group instruction, help wherever needed. I will be observing interns teach two lessons throughout the semester.”

With much thought and planning behind the new curriculum, Consdorf is almost ready to set her new sights for the program into full gear. She is eager to see all of it play out as this upcoming semester will be the trial run for the recent changes.

“These changes give the program structure and clear goals for the interns. This way, all interns will experience similar teaching roles,” she said. “I also layered in an interview assignment, resume, and bulletin board making project. Interns will also observe a special teacher. I want students to have a clear, well-rounded introduction to the teaching profession.”

The changes will improve the experience for those in the program, provide student feedback, and give them an idea of what this career path holds for them. Her hope is that the experience will be positive for everyone involved.