Student Programs Director
Sandra Jackson
P.O. Box 4177
Montgomery, AL 36103
334-834-9790
1-800-392-5839
SAEA
FTA
Student Conferences
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The Student Programs division organizes and coordinates programs and activities for the student members on a state level and assists with the organization and implementation of programs on a local level. The SP Division organizes and coordinates one conference annually for FTA members and also provides on campus speakers for specific topics affecting student members.
The SP Director visits high schools to keep the members abreast of Association benefits and activities and provide information on Association services to potential members. The SP director also encourages local and state participation of the student members to help develop leadership skills and take advantage of the networking opportunities available through the Association.
For information on how to start a local chapter of FTA at your school, contact Sandra Jackson at 1-800-392-5839.
The future teacher organizations, the ALSDE and AEA will provide funding for Future Teachers of Alabama (FTA) Chapters throughout the state. This funding is designed to enhance the capacity of state and local associations to develop, support, and sustain innovative projects for recruiting and retaining new teachers. For more information on this grant and for an application, click here.
The Alabama Education Association and the State Department of Education created a new statewide celebration called Growing Our Own Week. Two programs that will help attract talented students to teaching were also announced, the new TEACH Alabama program and Future Teachers of Alabama (FTA) student organization.
Growing Our Own Week is a celebration of the teaching profession in Alabama. “When you see how hard our state’s teachers work, you simply have to respect this profession,” says AEA Executive Secretary Dr. Paul Hubbert. “To be a great teacher, you must have a strong foundation of relevant knowledge and a real passion for helping others. This is why events like Growing Our Own Week and programs like FTA and TEACH Alabama are so important. They help to instill pride in the young people who want to be the next generation of educators in Alabama.”
According to national figures, by 2008 there will be a demand for 2.5 million new teachers nationwide. The forecast for teachers in the coming years have some concerned about possible teacher shortages, not only in areas traditionally harder to fill, such as science and math, but in all areas of instruction. To address this issue and the cumulative percentage of new teachers leaving the teaching profession each year, it is critical that Alabama cultivate its own students and prepare them for leadership roles in public education.
One approach is the TEACH Alabama program that offers high school students an opportunity to earn academic credit by observing veteran teachers in the classroom, assisting with class projects, tutoring, and assisting other students in subjects such as reading, math, and science. Students participating in these programs can use their credits to pursue teaching careers. The culminating experience for Alabama high school students participating in the TEACH Alabama program is a one-credit teaching internship. During this internship, students are assigned to a seasoned teacher in their school system, where they gain valuable real world experience.
“Many states are starting to utilize programs like FTA and TEACH Alabama to prepare students for teaching careers,” said AEA Student Programs Director Sandra Jackson. “This really gives these students a great start. They have more time to explore the teaching profession and all that is required to be a productive educator. These students, in my opinion, are better equipped to make an insightful decision about how committed they are to pursing a career in education.”
FTA is a pre-professional organization that is focused on preparing students for rewarding careers in teaching. The organization’s primary goals are to create opportunities for Alabama students to network and learn from top educators statewide, to equip students with the skills necessary to make smooth transitions from high school to postsecondary learning, and to provide students with valuable information and real-world knowledge at FTA sponsored conferences and workshops.
Any high school student in Alabama interested in teaching as a profession can join FTA. For assistance in participating in the TEACH Alabama program or in establishing an FTA Chapter at your school, or a Student Alabama Education Association (SAEA) chapter at your college or university, contact Jackson at 334-834-9790, or e-mail sandraj@alaedu.org.