The 8th Annual Future Teacher Conference–
Did You Rise to the Challenge?
Santiago Canyon College
Pathways to Teaching
Newsletter
Inside this issue:
Future Teacher
Conference
1
SCC Teach in Sacramento 2
Student California Teachers
Association
3
The Job Interview–
Answering the Tough
Questions
4
Pathways to Teaching
Program
Program Coordinator/Professor
Janis Perry
Counselor/Career Specialist
Maria Chaidez
Student Assistant
Yvette Orellana
The 8th Annual Future Teacher Conference was another success. Our
conference attendance increased; with more participation from
Orange Unified High School Child Development and Careers in
Education students. With 200 attendees, the conference workshops
were diverse and four workshops were offered per breakout session.
After school employer, Anaheim Achieves was also on hand with
current job openings. University representatives from CSUF, Biola, UCI
and Concordia also shared their time with our students to promote
their programs.
This year’s theme was “Owning it...Rise to the Challenge. The theme
coincided with our return opening keynote presenter Alex Kajitani. Mr.
Kajitani is a Middle School Math teacher, California teacher of the year (2009) and has written a new book ti-
tled, Owning It: Proven Strategies for Success in ALL of your Roles as a Teacher Today . This book is a current
text for the SCC Education 200 and 210 courses. He also held a breakout session about making math cool– did
we also mention he is known as the rappin’ mathematician?
The breakout sessions were focused on Social Justice for Girls and Women, Teaching Middle School Science and
emphasizing that Elementary Teachers are Science Teachers too! Our conference was closed by Dr. Beverly
Young who is the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Teacher Education and Public School Programs
for the California State University System. Dr. Young is also a commission member for the California Commis-
sion on Teacher Credentialing. Her insight about the realities of teacher education programs and the state of
employment were hopeful and gave a realistic perspective that students needed to be aware of. Thank you to
all attendees & we look forward to seeing you in the Spring 2015 for our next Future Teacher Conference!
April/May 2014
Alex Kajitani at the book signing with SCC
students
Dr. Barnhart and Dr. Tommerup
discuss Science with future
Elementary Teachers
Social Justice for Girls & Women.
Gail Watts from CTA spoke about
relevant issues facing women/girls
and implications for educators.
Teaching Middle School Science–
Mrs. Steele spoke from the heart
about her passion for teaching and
science.
Dr. Beverly Young speaking at
the closing of our conference
University reps. and Anaheim
Achieves setting up before
lunch. Lunch time for the conference
attendees!
Page 2 Pathways to Teaching Newsletter
SCC TEACH Visits Sacramento! The Student California Teachers
Association (SCTA) held their
annual Representative Assembly
(RA) in Sacramento on April 26-
27. SCC TEACH club members,
who are also SCTA members
were sponsored to travel to Sac-
ramento, along with advisor
Maria Chaidez for a weekend of
workshops, networking and
electing a new SCTA executive
board. They mingled with other
students from CSU Northridge,
Chico State, Riverside Community
College, San Diego State and
many more.
Students were instructed on Robert’s Rules of Order parliamentary procedures and had opportunities to meet
with newly elected executive board members. The valuable connections made during the weekend allowed
our SCC TEACH members to walk away with renewed energy and ideas to share with our club/chapter.
SCTA sponsors and covers the cost of members to attend this conference. During the Fall 2014 semester, SCTA
will hold their annual Leadership Conference in Northern California and the next RA conference will be in
Southern California in the spring 2015.
If you want to know more about SCTA and becoming a member, ask our SCC TEACH officers. Details and
information are also provided in this newsletter as well.
From left: Sydney Harbour, Chloe Calder, Vanessa Gomez, Yvette Orellana
in front of the State Capitol.
Pictured above: All SCTA members in attendance, videotaping a message to the
California Teachers Association (CTA). Chloe Calder was instrumental in mobilizing the
group to video tape their concerns about the minimal budget CTA allocates for SCTA. Flying back home. Thank you SCTA &
Sacramento!
Page 3 Pathways to Teaching Newsletter
Student California Teachers Association
Do you network? Are you aware that you might be doing so on a daily
basis? The key is making professional connections! You might ask yourself,
“why do I have to network while I am still an undergraduate?” There are
professional organizations that ready to welcome you with a multitude of
benefits— so the real question you should be asking is ‘How do I start
networking and join an organization that will help me become a teacher
leader?” The most immediate way to network is become involved while
you’re at SCC with the SCC TEACH club. SCC TEACH is a chapter of the
Student California Teachers Association (SCTA).
Student CTA strives to be a recognized and collaborative organization that
inspires and fosters exemplary future leaders in education.
1. We believe in developing qualified, skilled and passionate future
educators prepared to address evolving challenges in the profession.
2. We believe political action is a way to be proactive and informed to gain a
personal understanding of the issues that concern your profession in order to
publicly influence positive change.
3. We believe community service helps future educators develop, foster and improve the community and creates positive relationships.
4. We believe in supporting a diverse membership and working together to promote a public education system that values the diversity of
our state.
Visit the SCTA website to join and get more information. http://www.cta.org/About-CTA/Who-We-Are/SCTA.aspx
SCTA students from various campuses in California
• Before California Commission on Teacher
Credentialing, which accredits teacher-
education programs, sets credential
standards and fees, and develops and
administers statewide tests.
• On CTA minority caucuses, (African
American, Asian/Pacific Islander, American
Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic), on
caucuses related to disabilities and early
childhood, and on the CTA Ethnic Minority
Affairs Committee.
• By lobbying and testifying in Sacramento
and Washington, DC, when legislation
affects us (testing, tuition, financial aid,
etc.).
• With voting participants on the CTA State
Council of Education and on special CTA
task forces on issues that directly affect
students and beginning teachers.
• On the NEA Board of Directors, on NEA
committees and as delegates to the NEA
Representative Assembly.
SCTA members receive:
• SCTA I Choose to Teach statewide
newsletter.
• CTA-NEA California Educator -
statewide professional magazine.
• NEA Today - national professional
newspaper Tomorrow's Teachers
publications.
• $1,000,000 liability insurance and legal
protection when you work with students
as a part of your preparation to be a
teacher.
• A life insurance benefit that increases
with each year of continuous CTA
membership up to $2,000.
• $ 1, 00 0 a cc i de n t a l d ea th a n d
dismemberment insurance.
• Low rates on auto, homeowners or
renters insurance Disaster Relief Fund
through FACT provides grants and no-cost
interest loans to teachers who are victims
of natural disasters in the state. • Research services - studies,
publications, etc.
• Key job contacts
• Salary-schedule information
• Workshops and conferences
• Scholarships available
• Legal assistance on specified
credential matters
• Credit Union privileges
• Discount on movie tickets, museums,
amusement park entrance fees, new and
used cars through the auto purchasing
program, cruises, hotels, rental cars and
vacation packages
Pathways to Teaching Newsletter Page 4
The Job Interview– Answering the Tough Questions! Source: www.educationworld.com
Below are some questions you might want to ask the administrator and interview team:
• What are the overall demographics of the school?
• Are parents involved? In what ways do they show support for the school?
• In what ways do the teachers at this school work together?
• What kinds of training are you currently pursuing as a staff?
• How frequently do you meet with the staff?
• What is the dress code for teachers?
• What resources are available for teachers within the school and district in terms of materials, books, etc. for the classroom?
• What is your personal philosophy about education?
• What kinds of teaching strategies do you like to see used in the classroom?
• If I have a problem with a parent, what kind of support can I expect?
In a series of articles written by Emma McDonald from educational world, an online magazine, she discusses questions you might be asked during
job interviews. Some of those questions are more difficult to answer than others, and you're probably wondering how to answer those in a way
that presents you in the best possible light. In this column, she’ll address a few of the questions and offer some advice on how to answer them.
What is your philosophy of teaching?
As stated in an earlier column, to answer this question, you don't have to boil down your teaching philosophy into a pithy three-sentence
statement. Instead, write down ahead of time your beliefs about teaching and learning as a series of bulleted points. When responding to the
interviewer, be specific about those points and then list the aspects of teaching about which you're most passionate.
Why would you be a good fit for our district/school?
This is where all that research about the district comes in handy. What was it about the information presented on the district/school Web site that
made you interested in that particular school system? Was it because students are highly active through learning centers and hands-on type
learning activities? Was it the vision or mission stated on the Web site? Did you find a place where your unique knowledge and skills would fit
well?
For example, one possible answer might be: After viewing your Web site, I was impressed with your vision of students, parent, and teachers
working together. I'm a huge proponent of inquiry-based learning, experiential-based learning and integrated learning -- all mentioned in your
administrator letter to the community. I'm also quite interested in the personal project you require of upper-level students each year. This sounds
very similar to the "Walkabout" project I required of my eighth-graders while student teaching. I have already received training in the 4-Mat
planning wheel; this would integrate well with your current focus on learner differentiation, as it creates a plan to teach to all learning styles
throughout a unit.
What do you think makes a good teacher?
This question can be answered using your belief statements about teaching and learning. Which of those statements are about the teacher and
what he or she should do? Do you believe a good teacher facilitates learning through guiding questions or forty-five-minute lectures to the class as
a whole? Do you believe a good teacher listens to his or her students and works to build positive relationships with those students? Should a good
teacher have strong communication skills and be able to work in a team? To help yourself answer that question, include statements of belief
about good teaching when you write down your philosophy of education.
How would you deal with an angry or upset parent?
Listening, empathizing and working together to determine a solution to the problem is the key. Those three elements are necessary for working
with angry parents and should be included in your answer.
For example: I would first listen to the parent's concerns and make note of them. Next, I would express my understanding of his/her frustration,
and then describe what actually occurred in the classroom if it was different from what was described. Afterward, I would express my desire to
work together to solve the issue, if possible. I believe that letting parents vent their frustration allows us to move past the anger and get to the
point where we can work out a solution.
Interview Questions for You to Ask
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