Erin McManus, pre-college program coordinator in WCU's Center for Mathematics and Science Education, helps local middle school students examine germs under a microscope. The students were participating in a session focusing on "Teaching Hands-On Science" at the Middle School Teachers of Tomorrow Conference.

More than 200 middle school students from across Western North Carolina were introduced to the teaching profession Tuesday, Feb. 10, as Western Carolina University hosted its annual Middle School Teachers of Tomorrow Conference.

After a welcome by Michael Dougherty, dean of WCU’s College of Education and Allied Professions, and a presentation on “Rewards of Teaching” by Scott Cook, the university’s assistant director of teacher recruitment, the students sat in on information sessions that focused on choosing a college, leading a classroom in a diverse world, and teaching the particular subjects of science, foreign languages and mathematics. They also learned about the state’s Teaching Fellows Program and other scholarship opportunities.

The conference for middle school students began as a pilot program two years ago involving two area schools, but it has grown since then to serve the entire region, said Kim Elliott, director of WCU’s Office for Rural Education and Teacher Recruitment. The event is sponsored by that office and WCU’s Teaching Fellows Program.

WCU’s conference for middle-schoolers is modeled after the university’s long-running High School Teachers of Tomorrow program, which brings high school students to campus for a day each October.

“Many of the high school students who attend the fall Teachers of Tomorrow program have tentatively chosen teaching as a career, but with the middle school audience, it is all about opening doors and helping students think about their options,” Elliott said. “Many middle school students may eventually choose another career, but it is critical that each student realize teaching is one career for them to consider.”

Schools sending students to the conference this year were Erwin Middle, North Buncombe Middle and Enka Middle from Buncombe County; Robbinsville Middle from Graham County; Canton Middle and Waynesville Middle from Haywood County; Scotts Creek Elementary from Jackson County; Tipton Hill Elementary and Buladean Elementary from Mitchell County; East Rutherford Middle from Rutherford County; and Cherokee High and Swain Middle from Swain County.

The middle school conference was funded in part through a college access grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

For more information about WCU’s teacher recruitment efforts, contact Kim Elliott at (828) 227-7347 or kelliott@email.wcu.edu.

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Last modified: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009