JVS early childhood students gain classroom experience

Early childhood education students at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School are gaining hands-on experience by spending time in classrooms at Hills Elementary.

Nineteen juniors and seniors in instructor Amy Rusnak’s program have been visiting the school one Friday per month, observing and assisting teachers while learning what it’s like to work in an elementary building. Rusnak said the group previously visited Cross Creek Elementary, but this is the first year students have completed the experience at Hills — a familiar setting for Rusnak, who taught there in the past. Several students also attended Hills when they were younger.

Rusnak said students have been on site since fall, with 11 juniors attending one Friday each month and eight seniors attending on another Friday. The visits are expected to continue through about May.

“We place them with teachers and each teacher has their own needs,” Rusnak said, noting 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.”

Rusnak added that the experience can help students decide whether education is the right career 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.”

Students said the visits have been valuable, whether or not they ultimately pursue teaching.

“I love it. It’s fun,” said Hayden Shurak-Wood, a senior based at Edison High School who said she is still deciding on a career path. “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,” said Emily Crabtree, a junior from Indian Creek who hopes to teach preschool or kindergarten. “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 said she also enjoyed returning to her former elementary school and seeing previous teachers.

Alyssa Bonecutter, a senior based at Buckeye Local, said the experience has helped her learn more about working with children with different needs.

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

Hills Principal Erin Alloggia said the visits offer meaningful insight for the JVS students.

“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 said.