An article in
The Catholic Voice about the Future Teacher Club, a partnership
between Roncalli Catholic High School and College of Saint Mary:
Roncalli Gives Future Teachers Taste of Ministry
By Elizabeth Wells, The Catholic Voice
With Nebraska teacher salaries ranked 45 in the nation and the potential
for classroom violence, few are encouraging their children to become a
teacher today.
Still it is a profession that people have
called a ministry and a career that deeply impacts future generations.
To recruit enthusiastic youth, Roncalli has adopted a national program,
Future Educators of America, aimed at fostering interest in
education, especially Catholic education.
Future Educators of America is
sponsored by Phi Delta Kappa, an honorary professional association for
educators. The Roncalli group was encouraged by the school's partnership
with the College of Saint Mary, said Paula
Lenz, dean of students.
For the past two years, the students in
the Roncalli club have been meeting twice each month, according to Lenz,
who is also a member of PDK.
Topics of discussion at the
meetings include child development, and skill development in leadership,
interpersonal relations and communication. They also have been learning
more about teaching. "The students do the work," Lenz said,
noting that she facilitates meetings and encourage "them to think of all
the possibilities. "
A
unique exchange
The program has established a unique
exchange between Roncalli, College of
Saint Mary and St. Bernard School, all in
Omaha.
Since December, Roncalli's 14- member
club has been going to St. Bernard School for about one and a half hours
a month. "It is Catholic schools ministering to Catholic schools," Lenz
said. This reciprocal ministry includes
College of Saint Mary students as well. Dr. Joanne R. Carlson, chair of the education department
at College of
Saint Mary, obtained the Nebraska Partnership for Quality Teacher Education grant
that funds organizing and maintaining local groups of future teachers.
Wendy Ratkovek,
a junior at College of Saint Mary, is the
president of the college's student education association. She worked to
establish the future teachers group at Roncalli and
South High School in
Omaha. She continues to work with
the programs and makes sure that the grant monies are spent for things
that will enhance the future teacher organization at the school, Lenz
said.
Roncalli will officially become a member
of the national Future Educators of America this fall.
Hands-on Learning.
Visiting St. Bernard provides hands-on learning and service opportunities
for the future teachers, Lenz said. The RoncaIli students read to and do
projects with the students at St. Bernard.
"Working with the kids im- proves their skills and working with them
increases (future teachers') knowledge," Ratkovek said, adding that the
benefits also apply to her. "I have a lot of fun with it. I
feel like I have some influence on the Roncalli and South High
students," she said. "I feel like I am leaving a mark in a good
way. I hope that's the message I'm sending anyway."
