Connecting Students & Teachers at "WSCC, CTE & Me Day"
Krystal Magee received a nice surprise when she took her third-grade class to the "WSCC, CTE & Me Day" at West Shore Community College in May.
One of the presenters at a learning station in this unique career awareness fair designed for elementary students was Lisa Morley, a professor of Early Childhood Education and Childhood Development at the college.
Lisa taught Krystal in college and now Krystal is a teacher whose students attend KND Elementary (Brethren) in Kaleva Norman Dickson Schools is a K-12 school district in Manistee.
Krystal's students were excited about the chance to learn from their own teacher's teacher.
"After I told my class Mrs. Morley used to be my professor," said Krystal. "Eveyone laughed when one of my students shouted out 'So, you're like our grand-teacher!'"
Actually, the "WSCC, CTE & Me Day" event was not the first time Lisa has presented to students whose teachers she once had as her own students, as many of Lisa's former student have stayed in the area and have become educators.
"It's a wonderful reflection on how well West Shore Community College serves the community by helping local students acquire new skills, stay local, and go on to teach future generations," Lisa noted. "And partnering in events like this with the West Shore ESD and its CTE program helps our younger students imagine the possibilities!"
Lisa said it was wonderful to see Krystal again.
"I was proud of her as a student," she said. "I love that I can now call her my colleague in education."
Krystal was in Morley's class at WSCC in 2010-11 and parlayed the credits she earned locally toward her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Ferris State.
"Lisa taught about the child's brain and what students need to learn to become successful readers," Krystal said. "This was invaluable to a budding teacher like me."
Krystal is convinced the chance to learn about careers at "WSCC, CTE, & Me Day" made a long-lasting impact on her third-graders.
"Because so many of the career stations were very hands-on," she said. "My students truly had their eyes opened to what they can do in the future."