Libertyville Resident Takes Part in New Education Partnership

A Libertyville resident is taking part in a new program that allows education students to partner with suburban schools throughout the school year.

Scott Metzger, who is getting a teaching certificate at National Louis University, is getting a head start on student teaching thanks to the Suburban Schools Teacher Education Partnership.

The program provides students with hands-on experience working with classroom teachers and teaching students in suburban schools, before they begin their student teaching during the spring term.

“Being  part of SSTEP allowed me to experience how an English department and classroom runs,” Metzger said. “This is a tremendous benefit, for when I start my student teaching in the spring, the students and I will be comfortable with each other and I can lead the classroom without interruption.”

This is the Suburban Schools Teacher Education Partnership program’s first year and it already is partnering with Evanston Township High School, Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Maine East High School in Park Ridge and Niles North High School.

Metzger, who is preparing to start his student teaching at Maine East High School in Park Ridge, has spent the last several months getting to know the school, faculty and students in his sophomore and senior English composition classes as part of the Suburban Schools Teacher Education Partnership program.

Suburban Schools Teacher Education Partnership scholars also are required to complete the program with a documented set of accomplishments that will set them apart from their peers when applying for teaching positions, such as developing a service learning program. Metzger and teacher Rachel Samlan are developing anti-bullying awareness campaign with their sophomore English students, taking what the students learned about bullying and violence in Lord of the Flies.

The Suburban Schools Teacher Education Partnership “has given me the opportunity to take advantage of projects I wouldn’t normally have access to as a student teacher, such as helping coach the speech team or getting involved with the Poetry Out Loud program and Shakespeare Recitation Contest at Maine East,” Metzger said. “I’ve also made professional contacts, which have led to a few job interviews, before I’ve even started my student teaching.”

Information provided by National Louis University.