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The students need to already be “You’re helping guide and mold forefront to find ways to make sure
enrolled in a similar program at their them—and you don’t get that in many they’re filling those spots,” Stewart
high school to qualify for the Grow professions,” she said. “It’s definitely said. “The important issue here is
Your Own program, so they are a calling that not everyone can do. If these districts don’t want to just fill a
already working in the classroom with students have been in these programs classroom. What they’re really trying to
teachers and other students. during their junior and seniors years, do is ensure they have quality teachers
The college’s goal is ensuring by the time they get here, they’ll know in the classroom in the future.”
teachers are prepared for their futures if they want to be a teacher. For more information about the
as educators. “By the districts offering these Grow Your Own program, contact
“The children of Texas deserve the programs, whether it be Sam Sandra Stewart at sstewart@shsu.edu
best and most prepared teachers in the Houston’s or not, they’re creating a or 936.294.1103, or Katie Lowe at
classroom,” Stewart said. “We have workforce that looks just like their katielowe@shsu.edu or 936.294.2629.
to find ways to help strengthen their students,” she said. “When you have a
understanding and knowledge before city like Houston that’s so diverse, you
they get here. We want to also make need the teachers to be just as diverse
sure they really want to be a teacher. as the students.”
“Teaching is not what some people Based on the number of people
think it is—it’s hard,” she said. “We retiring within the next three-five
want them to have a real life, relevant years, the Texas Education Agency
experience for them to know, and has indicated there will be teacher
engage the fact that they want to do shortages.
this as a life-long career.” “Districts that are on top of it,
The greatest benefits in teaching are want to be on the
knowing you’re preparing students for
the future and making an impact in
their lives, according to Lowe.

TAFE

Texas Association of Future Educators

Sam Houston State University students, teachers and principals. active members of professional
will lead the way in establishing one Additionally, TAFE supports organizations as a means of continual
of the first chapters of the Texas Educators Rising at the national growth in their field. In February of
Association of Future Educators at level. Students who have been a 2018, Sam Houston State University
the higher education level in the member of TAFE in their high will sponsor the annual TAFE
fall of 2017. TAFE was created in school years will be able to extend conference with an anticipated
1984 to provide an opportunity for their experiences as a member of the attendance of over 2,000 students
middle and high school students to organization at the collegiate level. and advisors from middle and high
explore and gain knowledge about In addition, all students who aspire schools throughout all regions of
the teaching profession and careers to be educators or want to learn Texas. Our first chapter of TAFE
in education. As members of this more about the teaching profession will play an integral role in serving
organization, students learn the are invited to become members of to make the annual conference at
importance of service, leadership and TAFE. This student led organization SHSU a success. Lory Haas, assistant
strong character, which will assist will encourage future teachers to professor in the Department of
them in becoming effective future learn the importance of becoming Language, Literacy and Special
educators. TAFE is sponsored Populations is serving as the
by the Texas Association of advisor for TAFE. Please feel
Secondary Principals with a free to contact Lori Haas for
governing board comprised of information at leh015@shsu.edu.

Sam Houston State University | College of Education Annual Report 2017 13