Kansas high school students looking toward the future have the opportunity to see if they want to be among the future generation of teachers, coaches, counselors, education researchers, speech therapists – every profession that begins with a degree in education.
Applications are being accepted for the 31st annual Kansas Future Teacher Academy; the application is available from www.emporia.edu/kfta/. Current high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply. Applications need to be submitted by April 17, 2020.
"I attended KFTA in 2011 with my best friend, and it solidified both of our choices to go into education,” said Kelly Oberheu, a 2018 Kansas Horizon Award-winning teacher. “We learned so much about what it takes to be a teacher, and gained more insight about college living. Although neither of us attended ESU, I am happily teaching at the high school here in Emporia!”
Attending KFTA was ultimately what lead me to attending ESU and pursuing a career in education,” said Brent McCoy, who attended the academy in 2007. “Though I'm not in the classroom teaching, the foundation/connections created at KFTA and ESU were crucial for leading me down the path to higher education administration.” McCoy works for the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine.
The KFTA will be held June 7-11, 2020 at Emporia State University. During this time, academy participants will work with education faculty from area school districts, ESU education faculty, and meet with new teachers, academy alumni, the 2020 Kansas Teachers of the Year, and the 2020 Kansas Master Teachers.
“Our goal is two-fold for the students: give them an overview of the process of becoming a teacher – including developing a lesson and working with children – and provide them with a keyhole experience of what it would be like to attend college as an education major," said Dr. Heather Caswell, NBCT, director of the KFTA.
High school students are selected for the academy based upon their academic standing, involvement in school and community activities, and interest in exploring a career in teaching.
Funding for the academy is provided by the Kansas Legislature and is coordinated by the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence at ESU. For more information about the academy, visit www.emporia.edu/kfta/ or call 620-341-5372.