High school students to learn about teaching profession at TAFE conference
More than 100 high school students will compete in contests and learn about the path to becoming a teacher Friday during a regional conference at the University of Houston-Victoria.
This is the eighth year UHV has hosted the Region III conference of the Texas Association of Future Educators, a statewide organization that offers students the opportunity to explore the teaching profession.
This year’s conference theme is “Teachers Go Beyond the Call of Duty!”
“Teaching is among the most noble of professions, and I am delighted that these young people have an interest in it,” said Fred Litton, dean of the UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development. “We are happy to have them on our campus.”
The conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in UHV University North, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. Among this year’s competitive events are public speaking, project visualize, teaching videos, and lesson planning and delivery.
The conference also includes educational workshops led by UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development faculty and staff. Students will learn about team building and leadership, said Sandy Hybner, student recruitment and marketing manager for the school. Students also will tour the UHV campus.
“I think one of the reasons students look forward to this annual event is they get a feel for what it’s like to go to college,” Litton said. “They also get a chance to interact with our students, faculty and staff to gain firsthand knowledge about teaching.”
TAFE is the high school organization for future teachers. Members meet within their school districts monthly, attend regional competitive events and qualify to attend state and national conferences. The association’s mission is to encourage students to learn about careers in education and assist them in exploring the teaching profession while promoting character, service and leadership skills necessary for becoming effective educators.
“Educators consistently give of themselves in order to help their students grow,” said Rachel Martinez, associate dean of the UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development. “In this way, they can forever impact society. It is thrilling to see these young people invested in our future.”
For more information about the conference, call Hybner at 361-570-4252 or hybners@uhv.edu.
Find out more details about TAFE, visit www.tafeonline.org.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
