Teens Complete DASA Training on Journey to Become Teachers
Students in the Erie 1 BOCES Early Childhood Education program had the opportunity to take a training workshop that is crucial for them to become teachers in New York State.
The senior high school students in the program participated in a day-long Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) workshop offered by Erie 1 BOCES Professional Development Coordinator Nicole Kerner. Instructors Holly Place and Dina Verso at the Harkness Career & Technical Center and Ellen McKay at the Kenton Career & Technical Center guided their students through creating their professional NYS TEACH accounts to log their training.
This was the first time the Early Childhood Education program has offered DASA training for its students. The goal is to continue offering this certification to future senior classes, according to McKay.
“This is a great training for our students,” McKay added. “They are already a step ahead of other future teachers and college students, and they won't have to pay for the training on their own.”
Around 40 students participated in the DASA training. Normally the training is held in-person, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was held virtually.
“They were very passionate about the idea of bullying prevention in schools, since most of them have seen or experienced bullying through their school career,” McKay noted. “It led to great discussion on the topic and was an amazing learning experience for them.”
Additional trainings and requirements will be logged through each student’s NYS TEACH account from now until they graduate college. Once all requirements are met, the students will become certified teachers.
Students in Erie 1 BOCES’ two-year Early Childhood Education program run their own preschool and playgroups and participate in work-based learning experiences with the Buffalo Zoo, Children's Hospital and the YMCA. They work side-by-side with a certified teacher in a daycare or elementary classroom, re-experiencing the fun of their early childhood years through self-created lessons in art, music and storytelling.
About Erie 1 BOCES
As part of public education, Erie 1 BOCES offers a variety of career and technical programs during the normal school day to high school students in Erie County. High school students interested in learning more about how they can participate in various hands-on programs should visit www.e1b.org/cte or speak with their high school counselor.