High school seniors in Suffolk interested in a teaching career can now get a jump start on their future professions.

On Thursday,

the Suffolk School Board unanimously approved a new course, Teachers for Tomorrow, that will be offered at the city’s three high schools next year. The school division will be among the first in Virginia offering the program, said Assistant Superintendent Lynn E.

Cross.

Enrollment in the program will initially cap out at 15 seniors per high school, she said. Students have to be rising seniors with a

3.0 grade point average, an interest in education and five written teacher recommendations, Cross said.

The course, modeled after one in South Carolina, is designed to introduce seniors to a career in teaching and education, said Cross. During the year, they will study learning styles, teaching careers, history and

public education trends, special and gifted education, teacher certification steps,

and job interviewing skills.

Additionally, students will earn six hours of college credit – with Suffolk Public Schools picking up the tab., Cross said. The school division will also pay for the first part of each student’s teacher certification test at the end of the year.

Paul D. Camp Community College is prepared to give some scholarships to participants who wish to further their educations locally, Cross said.

&uot;It’s a great opportunity,&uot; she said. &uot;These students will be getting the first part of their teacher licensure exam out of the way. That’s nothing to sneeze it.

&uot;What an incentive to have your school division pay for your first college class,&uot; she added. &uot;We are really excited about this program.&uot;

School Superintendent Dr. Milton Liverman is hoping the city’s investments will reap future manpower rewards for the school system.

&uot; I look at this as a recruitment tool,&uot; said Liverman.

In other business, the School Board scheduled the dedication of King’s Fork High School at 2 p.m. Dec. 12.

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com