First teachHouston Grad Adds Teaching to Accomplishments
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Ricky Garcia was a shy kid growing up. So the thought of going before an audience was nerve-racking to say the least.
But beginning this fall, Ricky, 22, will be working in a classroom, teaching high school freshmen and sophomore students geometry at Clements High School in Fort Bend ISD.
In May, he became the first graduate of teachHouston, a University of Houston program, aimed at increasing the number of college students who go on to become secondary math and science teachers. |
One of the key components of teachHouston is that students are allowed to enter a classroom during their first semester in the program. In fact, five of the eight required courses are based in a classroom. That structure, Ricky said, helps students determine early on if they should go into teaching.
“From the get go, you get to try out teaching and that’s really great because you don’t want to go through the program and then get up in front of the class and decide you don’t want to be a teacher,” said Ricky, who graduated valedictorian from Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas.
The program is modeled after the University of Texas at Austin’s Uteach initiative, which also prepares students for secondary math, science and computer science teaching jobs. Partners in teachHouston include the University of Houston College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Education, local school districts, Texas Education Agency and Texas High School Project.
Ricky said he was nervous the first time he had to stand in front of a classroom, but over time, he became more comfortable. As part of teachHouston, students are paired with a mentor teacher in the school where they are assigned.
“We observe them teaching and then start to take over the class,” Ricky said. “It’s really nice to be able to do that.”
Nicole Kitakwaga, who teaches Algebra 1 and was Ricky’s mentor teacher at Clements High School, said she was impressed with Ricky’s work ethic.
“He was ready to get started right away,” she said. “He just wanted to take on responsibilities, and he wanted to help as much as possible.”
She said Ricky made an effort to learn about the students in her class.
In addition to mentor teachers, students are assigned master teachers, which are based at the university. Each student also has a peer mentor who is another teachHouston student in an upper class.
Dr. Susan E. Williams, the university’s math master teacher, said Ricky graduated a year ahead of schedule. The first class in the teachHouston program, which began in 2007, is scheduled to graduate in spring 2010.
She said he often came up with ideas to draw attention to the program. He was the first co-president of the teachHouston Student Society and he led math study sessions for other students.
“They could go out and make more money but their hearts are in making a difference,” she said of students such as Ricky. “They feel they can make a difference, that they’ll be doing their part.”