Maxine Smith

Smith's "Teaching Career Academy" is a new, elective program designed to encourage and prepare high school students to consider a career in teaching. Through the belief that teaching is the career that creates all others, the program has three objectives: (1) provide a rigorous, standards-based curriculum focused on teaching, learning, and children; (2) offer field experiences with diverse populations and community service learning opportunities; and (3) link students to post-secondary education opportunities. Students' teaching skills are assessed through journal entries, daily classroom discussions, assignments, tests, teaching evaluations and most importantly, through taping. Taping allows for later feedback and learning, and ultimately for documentation in student portfolios.