How the White Plains school district is addressing a teacher shortage

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The White Plains school district is addressing a shortage of teachers with two programs that are aimed at training today’s high school students to become teachers. The high school’s Educator Pathway Program, in partnership with Pace University and Westchester Community College, along with a similar program called Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Teachers that identifies future teachers of color, is designed to prepare the students to become teacher’s assistants throughout college, and then embark on careers as educators, and possibly coming back to work in the White Plains schools.

White Plains High School senior Francisco Montalvo listens to classmates give a presentation during a Foundation of Elementary Education class Nov. 1. The students in the class are part of the school's Educator Pathway Program in partnership with Pace University and Westchester Community College.

White Plains High School senior Alisha Ahmed listens to classmates give a presentation during a Foundation of Elementary Education class. Ahmed says that she hopes to become an elementary school teacher so she can one day say, “I was the one who taught them how to read. It’s the first step of many.”

White Plains High School students Mia Esquivel, center, Diana Joyasaca, and Keyla Zhingri deliver a presentation on the rights of teachers during a Foundation of Elementary Education class.

White Plains High School student Jackson Bourgeois delivers a presentation on culturally responsive teaching during a Foundation of Elementary Education class.

White Plains High School students Jackson Bourgeois, Leticia Oliveira and Aurora Ludewig deliver a presentation on culturally responsive teaching during a Foundation of Elementary Education class.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: White Plains NY school programs prepare students to become teachers