Trade Tech’s Future Educator Pathway launched this school year with its first cohort of 25 students. This Pathway is a partnership between Trade Tech and Children’s Paradise, and includes regular visits to local Children’s Paradise locations as well as a fully outfitted learning lab in one of our Trade Tech classrooms.
The Future Educators is a two year program preparing students for a wide array of potential careers in the world of education and childcare. The first year is focused on Child Development. The curriculum includes an exploration of developmental stages from infancy through adolescence. Students will gain an understanding of Early Childhood Education, teaching and learning in the Children’s Paradise model. During year two, students will delve into the world of curriculum design and culturally inclusive practices. This means they will learn how to design activities and lessons for diverse students at a variety of ages.
Throughout the course of the pathway, students will have the opportunity to earn college credits towards certification for a position in early childhood education. Through a combination of articulation and concurrent enrollment, the program supports students in earning the 12 units to be eligible to be an Associate Teacher. Students interested in pursuing a teaching credential for grade TK-12 are also supported in this Pathway and will have opportunities to gain field experience at local schools and in TA roles at Trade Tech.
Mike Gomes is CTE credentialed instructor leading the pathway. He joined the Trade Tech team this fall as part of the launch of Future Educators. He embodies the variety of possibilities represented by the launch of this new program, having gained a decade of experience at the YMCA where he served as a site supervisor for seven years. He has also accumulated diverse experiences in TK-12 school settings as both a teacher and a site leader.
