海角视频

What happens when you combine 13 teacher candidates, a room full of potential employers, and food? Jobs happen, that鈥檚 what. On Feb. 5-6, seniors in the department of education at 海角视频 were given the opportunity to dine and visit with both Adventist conference and public school education superintendents and principals from across Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. It was the annual Education Days at PUC, which has been taking place for over a dozen years, and by all accounts it was a smashing success.

鈥淲e do everything possible to get these students jobs when they graduate,鈥� says Debra Murphy, field services and TPA coordinator for the department. 鈥淧ersonal contact is so important. These days employers aren鈥檛 just looking at credentials; they鈥檙e also looking at personality to determine how well a potential employee will fit into the culture of the environment in which they鈥檒l be working.鈥�

The event began with a Dr. Seuss-themed dinner on Monday evening, with seating assigned based on students鈥� interest in particular geographic locations, so they can visit with representatives from their desired area. Students greet and seat the principals and superintendents, so from the very beginning of the event they have a chance for one-on-one interaction.

During the banquet, all teacher candidates are introduced from the front of the room, and booklets outlining each student鈥檚 qualifications and experience are provided to each employer.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance for the students and employers to get to know each other,鈥� says Murphy. 鈥淜ind of like a casual group interview, over dinner.鈥�

During the dinner, each teacher candidate spent 2-3 minutes speaking on the topic of, 鈥淏efore I was a teacher, I thought ________. But now I know _______.鈥�

鈥淏efore I was a teacher, I thought the world of education had the potential to be like hiking the same trail over and over,鈥� said Abby Everett. 鈥淣ow I know it鈥檚 more like an intricate network of trails with new vistas at every turn.鈥�

鈥淏efore I was a teacher, I thought teaching just meant knowing a whole bunch of stuff and being able to tell it to people,鈥� Katie Schlotthauer shared. 鈥淏ut now I know good teaching requires not only knowledge, but also compassion, flexibility, patience, and a whole lot of other things.鈥�

鈥淏efore I was a teacher, I thought teaching was all about having complete control of students鈥� actions and behavior,鈥� said Jose Ungson. 鈥淣ow I know it鈥檚 all about building relationships with students to create a successful classroom. It鈥檚 not so much about what I can do, but what I, the students, administration, and parents can do together to help the students succeed.鈥�

Conference and union directors also had a chance to introduce their teams in attendance, as well as address the teacher candidates.

鈥淭his event is a highlight for us as professional educators,鈥� said Berit von Pohle, director of education for the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. 鈥淲e realize that the impact educators have on children will never stop, and we know you, the next generation of influencers, will take our place confidently and competently.鈥�

On Tuesday morning, PUC鈥檚 department of education hosted a business meeting where all educator representatives gathered to discuss and review updated regulations, requirements, and mandates from the State of California, as well as any changes in PUC鈥檚 education curriculum.

鈥淐alifornia has the most rigorous process for certifying teachers,鈥� Murphy explains. 鈥淥nce you take the usual certification test, which itself is incredibly strenuous, you have to take the California-specific exam. If you鈥檙e certified in California, you can go pretty much anywhere in the country and teach, since requirements here are so stringent.鈥�

A job fair on Tuesday, operated as a speed dating event, gives students 10-12 minutes for a quick interview with each potential employer at their booth and the chance to set up a more extensive meeting at a later time. Students are encouraged to bring their resumes.

鈥淭here is always a positive response on the quality of the students we have, and nearly everyone gets hired as a result of this event,鈥� says Murphy. 鈥淢any Napa Valley schools have PUC grads working for them, and several of our alumni are teaching in Calistoga, just 20 minutes away. And even if an employer doesn鈥檛 have an immediate opening, they may have one next year, and they鈥檒l contact me and ask about specific students they met during Education Days.鈥�

鈥淚 am happy to say that reports we receive from the field tell us that our graduates are well-prepared for their work,鈥� says Tom Lee, chair of the department of education. 鈥淓ducation Days give us a chance to proudly show off our teacher candidates and put them in direct contact with those who will continue them on their trajectory of success.鈥�