Virginia Teachers For Tomorrow (VTFT) is a program within all Virginia Beach City Public Schools that wants student to experience the classroom from “the other side of the desk.”

This program is a one year class, split into two parts. The first semester is a class, and the second semester is an internship. VTFT participants, from all VBCPS schools, get together twice a year to discuss various topics. At Tallwood High School, Mrs. Jenna Free is the sponsor for VTFT and the teacher of the year for 2017. There are 25 students in VTFT at THS, and they all discussed the benefits of the course.

Katie Ponack says, “I am thinking about being a teacher, and I thought this would be a good way to learn about teaching and interacting with children.”

This program is meant to grant students valuable experiences while they bond with actual teachers and analyze their own teaching styles to better understand the teaching styles of others.

Jamaree Isekeije says, “This class has made me appreciate my teachers a lot more because I realized just how hard it is to make a lesson and find a cool way to teach it so that everyone in the class is able to comprehend … the information.”

Any student interested in the field of education or wanting to improve their leadership and communication skills should consider joining. Keep in mind there are a myriad of professions in the field of education.

Mrs. Free says, “[VTFT] is a great class [because it is] fun! VTFT students go on 5 or more field trips.”

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Jenna Free.