Future Industry Trends

The curriculum is enhanced by incorporating current industry trends and practices in order to enrich the students' learning.  The course includes high expectations, academics, workplace readiness skills, technology, and real world experiences. 

Examples of current industry trends include:

1. Using technology regularly to research and produce assignments
2. Writing lesson plans that identify the relevant Standard of Learning (SOL)
3. Writing lesson plans similar to those required of Fairfax County teachers
4. Designing and constructing an informative bulletin board
5. Earning industry certification
6. All Aspects of the Industry lessons
   1. Reading and sharing articles on trends in education
   2. Researching and reporting on current trends in education categories
   3. Exploring a career in education in the Occupational Outlook Handbook

Students are knowledgeable and prepared if and when they choose to pursue a career in education.

Curriculum Enhancements

1. Teacher Cadet 1 and 2 Resources (attached)
2. Teacher Developed Pacing Guide (attached)
3. Future Educators Association (Career Technical Student Organization – CTSO)
   1. Website
   2. Go Teach magazine
   3. State and National competitions
   4. Connection with Phi Delta Kappa
   5. Attending the National Conference in Baltimore for seventh year – students won several awards
   6. Attending the State Conference in VA Beach for second year (new in 2011)
4. Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (CTSO)
1. Website
2. Teen Times magazine
3. District, State and National competitions
4. Attended/mentored students for State Conference in VA Beach for the eighth year – students won several medals
5. Attending the District Conference in Fairfax County for the sixth year ( new in 2007) – students won several medals
4. Mount Vernon High School Career Center
   1. College Visits
   2. Guest speakers
   3. Scholarship announcements
5. Family Connections on Blackboard
   1. Assessments
   2. College exploration
6. In-service opportunities
   1. Virginia Department of Education
   2. Fairfax County Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Department
7. Fairfax County FACS Lead Teacher Meetings
8. FACS Blackboard resources shared by teachers

9. Guest speakers

   1. Nardos King, principal

   2. Elementary school principal – rotate each year

   3. Panel of new professionals: teacher, guidance counselor and resource teacher

   4. Mike Skinner, retired vice principal

   5. George Mason science student teachers

   6. Former students; current education majors in college

Interactions with Industry

The Teacher Cadet program interacts with industry almost every week.  As topics are introduced in the classroom, the teacher and students often share personal experiences.  Names aren’t used, but scenarios are described to illustrate points.  The stories help students remember the important information.

Guest speakers illustrate real world experiences.  They are spread out throughout the course.  Depending on the topic, a guest speaker is usually invited for 20-30 minutes.  Guest speakers in the past two years have included:

• Nardos King, principal
• Elementary school principal – rotate each year
• Panel of new professionals: teacher, guidance counselor and resource teacher
• Mike Skinner, retired vice principal
• George Mason science student teachers
• Former students; current education majors in college.

Completing some of the Future Educators Association national competitions in the classroom both integrated a Career and Technical Student Organization into the curriculum and provided industry interaction.  This year the students created a public service announcement that promoted teachers and used fourth grade students from an internship site for some of the scenes.  The class also created a Teacher Cadet commercial recruiting students for next year using a first grade class.  Both projects were enhanced by using younger students.

The best industry interaction is the two internships that each student completes.  Students complete two twenty-day internships in a classroom of their choice from pre-K through twelfth grade.  They are with their mentor and class between seventy to eighty minutes each time.  During the internship, they assist their teacher with small groups or individual students who need remedial or enrichment activities.  At least once a month they write and teach a lesson to a small group or the entire class.  They also design and construct an informational bulletin board for the classroom or hall.  The internship is a win-win-win situation.  The children learn, the mentor gets help for his/her students, and the high school intern learns. The teacher’s campaign to have an intern and the principals praise our program.  The interns leave the program better prepared for college because they are committed to their career goal.