Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/812811
are really interested in engaging younger students and want their lessons to go well. I wish I had the opportunity for something like this when I was younger." Calistoga may be a resort town best known for hot springs, mud baths and massages, but many students are Latino and come from poor families who work in the town's service indus- try. Some La Promesa students will be the first in their families to grad- uate from college. La Promesa starts them on that path: ey earn three units of credit from Sonoma State University, which partnered with Calistoga Joint Unified School District to develop the pro- gram and train high school teachers for the class. Carlos Ayala, dean of Sonoma State's School of Education, was instrumental in setting up the program. ere is also a pro- gram called La Promesa – Future STEM Educators at Elsie Allen High School in Santa Rosa, and it may start at another area high school soon. For teens pondering a teaching career, La Promesa offers a real look at the job and hands-on experience. Some find teach- ing is not what they expected and focus elsewhere. Others say they love working with children and are considering careers as speech therapists, physical therapists or pediatricians. And for some, the experience inspires a passion to become teachers and earn their credential. Teaching is fun, say students, but classroom management can be a challenge. " When kids started crying, I didn't know what to do, and it scared me," says Chloe Khoury. "I'm still working on it." Getting children's attention is also challenging, notes Jessica Lopez. " You want them to listen and you want to respect them, but sometimes you have to raise your voice a little bit, without yelling, so they know you're serious about it." Some La Promesa students have worked in special education classes to develop an understanding of stu- dents with special needs. A few were hired as interns in the district's summer Bridge Program, which helps prepare preschoolers for kindergarten. "I didn't realize this going in , but a lot of my students are l earnin g 's oft ski l l s' alon g th e way, includin g how to dre ss and b ehave profe ssional ly and pre sent th em selve s for th e job market," says Swarner, w ho obser ves and evaluates her students in the elementar y school setting. "It's a great expe- rience if they decide to become teachers — or for any career they choose in life." Maggie Swarner discusses Earth Science Week with student Beatriz Ayala. " Students are learning 'soft skills' along the way, including how to dress and behave professionally and present themselves for the job market. It's a great experience if they decide to become teachers." — MAGGIE SWARNER, Calistoga Teachers Association 34 cta.org teaching & learning