How a 4K-La Follette Program is Preparing Future Educators

La Follette High School teacher Bryce Saint Peter saw an opportunity to give students real-world experience in early childhood education, and turned it into a new pilot partnership between the high school’s child development class and 4K programs. 

The La Follette High School 4K inservice program, part of a Career and Technical Education course, is designed to prepare students for vocation in education by having them help facilitate classrooms under the guidance of teachers. Saint Peter, the teacher who runs the La Follette child development class, said the program is meant to give students vital experience suitable for a resume.

For Henderson 4K teacher Lisa Carlson, who has dedicated 37 years to early childhood development, the partnership represents a vital pipeline for the district’s future workforce.

"I think about that experience, and it would have been amazing for me," Carlson said. "When I was in high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. This gives students another option. Maybe they want to be a teacher. Maybe they want to go back and teach at the schools they attended."

By giving students in the class an opportunity to step into the role of an educator in a high-support environment, the district helps demystify the profession. Staff ensure that students aren't just reading about child development; they are gaining hands-on experience. 

For the Henderson 4K team, the program provided an opportunity to step into mentorship roles, guiding the high schoolers on the realities of early childhood education.

When the high schoolers arrived with activities like making slime or playing math games, the Henderson teachers helped them understand the intentionality behind the fun. Peterson emphasized that these activities are critical for fine motor development and writing readiness.

Beyond the opportunity to demonstrate, the 4K teachers benefited from the unique dynamic the "big kids" brought to the room.

"My students love seeing the high schoolers. They remembered their names even after a week apart," Peterson said.

From 4K teacher Cris Fonseca-Vargas’ perspective, the visit to her primarily Spanish-speaking background had an even deeper impact. There, high school students pivoted and communicated in Spanish. Vargas described it as a “lovely experience,” giving the 4K students role models to guide them on their bilingual education.

The high school students also gain a realistic look into the 4K profession, everything from the importance of lesson planning to emotional regulation.

"It’s really important for our students to come in and just see what 4K is all about, before they go and decide what they want to do with their future," Peterson said.

Saint Peter hopes this pilot program can serve as a blueprint for other comprehensive high schools in the district, to partner with their feeder elementary schools.