With an average salary ranging from $48,217 to $70,471 in Texas, many believe that teachers are underpaid with work weeks that can stretch beyond 40 hours and no overtime pay.
But several Redhawks are trying to get a head start on a possible career through FISD’s Education and Training program at CTE, where students work as teacher assistants at elementary schools throughout the district.
“It feels amazing being in the class because you get to help kids with what they don’t understand and experience leading the class,” junior Talbiha Jahangir said. “I love being there and seeing all the kiddos be able to learn and fill their minds with wonder and explore their passions.”
The program’s teacher Nicky Fryman, observes the students two times each marking period in a process that is similar to the Texas Education Agency’s teacher evaluation system.
“[I look for] strong communication skills, strong verbal and non-verbal communication, and someone who can answer questions with depth, insightfulness and knowledgeably,” Fryman said. “I score them on a rubric and then give them some verbal praise to keep doing certain things as they are because they are doing well in that area or constructive feedback for some areas where they could improve or adjust.”
Phoebe So, a junior in the program, finds the program beneficial for her future career.
“Being able to physically be in the classroom and shadow a teacher allows you to learn so many lessons to help you prepare for the future in a career,” So said. “I can watch my mentor and see how she handles different situations and how she interacts with the students, thus allowing me to grow as a future educator myself.”
Knowing that they won’t get paid as much as other careers, these students still want to go into the field of teaching.
“I’ve never been someone who likes to own expensive items so it doesn’t really matter to me,” Jahangir said. “I think teachers should get paid more for the troubles they go through, especially the ones who try their best, but at the end of the day I want to do this because it’s my passion and not because of the money.”
Like many current teachers, these students say one of the main reasons they want to become a teacher is because of the children.
“I have been able to grow super close with most of my students, where they trust me as a teacher and as a friend,” So said. “Seeing their smiling faces running to me to hug me in the morning makes my day every day.”
