Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Charlotte Marsch, Director of Marketing and Communications
(417) 328-1803 / cmarsch@sbuniv.edu
BHS SENIORS BEGIN TAKING EDUCATION COURSES AT SBU
BOLIVAR, Mo. — Two Bolivar High School seniors are getting a head start on a career in teaching, thanks to an agreement that was finalized last spring between BHS and Southwest Baptist University.
Allison Ashlock and Maddie Geurin are dual-enrolled in Foundations of Education, a three-hour course that counts toward teaching certification. Educational Psychology will be available for the high school students to take during the spring semester.
“We’re both focusing on being future educators and wanted a head start,” Ashlock said. “We’ve been able to immerse ourselves in the college experience. Knowing more how college works will make that first day of college seem so much easier.”
The students already are writing lesson plans and learning skills they can use in the classroom.
“This class has gotten me more excited about being a teacher because we have talked about things I can do when I teach,” Geurin said.
Dr. Dwight Haun, chair of SBU’s Department of Education, is teaching the course in which Ashlock and Geurin are enrolled.
“Both Allison and Maddie are great students,” Haun said. “They have set the bar high for future students. I hope that their positive experience in the class will encourage more students to consider this opportunity. Taking these courses as seniors should accelerate their progression through a teacher education program, especially if they have taken other dual-credit courses.”
The agreement allows for as many as 12 BHS seniors recommended by teachers, school counselors and administrators to take Foundations of Education and/or Educational Psychology each year. The students will receive both high school and college credit for the courses.
“It’s been a great partnership,” said Michelle Darby, BHS assistant principal and director of college and career programs.“It’s a unique experience to have our high school students sitting in a classroom with college students.”
For more information about the Department of Education at SBU, contact Haun at (417) 328-2043 ordhaun@SBUniv.edu.
Photo cutline:
Two Bolivar High School seniors are getting a jumpstart on a career in education through an agreement with Southwest Baptist University that allows qualified students to dual-enroll in entry-level education courses. Pictured are, from left, Dr.Dwight Haun, chair of SBU’s Department of Education, director of teacher education at SBU and professor of education; Allison Ankrom, BHS senior; Maddie Geurin, BHS senior; and Michelle Darby, assistant principal and director of collegeand career programs at BHS.
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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring,academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visitwww.SBUniv.edu.
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