STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS — Senior Alyssa Bonecutter, an early childhood education student at the Jefferson County Vocational School, assisted Olivia Hanlin, a kindergarten pupil at Hills Elementary School, with her reading as part of a program to gain hands-on experience toward her future goals. Bonecutter is among 19 pupils earning classroom experience by observing and assisting teachers at Hills. The juniors and seniors have separately visited Indian Creek elementary schools one Friday per month since fall and will continue to assist through May. -- Contributed

BLOOMINGDALE — Students enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at the Jefferson County Vocational School are gaining hands-on experience by spending time inside classrooms in the Indian Creek School District.

JVS Instructor Amy Rusnak explained 19 juniors and seniors are taking part in the program, which is now visiting Hills Elementary School. She noted 11 juniors visit the school one Friday of the month, and eight seniors visit pupils on another Friday.

Rusnak stated her students have the opportunity to observe the children and assist the teachers, learning the ropes of being in an actual elementary setting. Students previously visited Cross Creek Elementary pupils, with this being the first time visiting Hills. The JVS instructor noted this was previously where she taught and where many of her students attended as youngsters. She added students began the hands-on learning in the fall, and plan to continue their visits one Friday per month through May.

“We place them with teachers and each teacher has their own needs,” Rusnik continued, saying her ECE students generally rotate among classrooms. “They are observing and getting an idea of what they do. They are able to see the different classrooms, grade levels and personalities, and figure out what kind of teacher they want to be.”

Not all of the students may continue in the field of education, Rusnak noted, adding the program gives them an opportunity to sort out their future path.

“If they get their CDA certification, they can still work in daycare while they are going to school,” she said. “This way, they may know it’s not their calling before college.”

Several students said the program has been an interesting experience, whether or not they intend to become future educators.

“I love it,” said Hayden Shurak-Wood, a senior based at Edison High School who said she was still determining her chosen vocation. “It’s fun. I like being able to help the kids and teaching them different ways to learn.”

“The kids are really well-behaved and I like the teachers,” added Emily Crabtree, a junior from Indian Creek who hoped to teach preschool or kindergarten one day. “I like working with the older kids but would like to work with the younger ones. I enjoy getting to spend time with them all day.”

Crabtree stated she enjoyed getting to return to her former elementary school and visiting with past teachers as part of the program.

Alyssa Bonecutter, a senior from Buckeye Local, said she looks forward to working with children and is getting an idea of life in a classroom setting.

“I get to learn a lot of things and work with different kids and learning abilities,” Bonecutter commented. “I want to be a daycare provider.”

Hills Principal Erin Alloggia welcomed the students. She said it is a great way help them gain some perspective.

“It has been a good experience and it’s nice to see students who had gone to Hills come back to be with the teachers who inspired them to go into education,” Alloggia concluded.