As the 2018-19 school year rolls in, the high school welcomes many new students and instructors. Along with these newcomers, multiple student teachers have entered the HHS family for the semester to expand their college learning.

In the classroom, a student teacher’s job is to observe their cooperating teacher and try to emulate his or her techniques. The teacher can hand off the lesson to the student teacher at any time.

In addition, student teachers help teachers explain certain topics, and help them with activities in the classroom. If the teacher is occupied with a student, the student teacher can help other students at the same time, so the lesson can move faster.

One of the new student teachers is Bryan Miner, a TCNJ student who teaches with physics and intro to engineering teacher Christopher Aleo. At The College of New Jersey, Miner looks to graduate next year majoring in both physics and secondary education.

His ideal career would be as a high school physics teacher. He enjoys the atmosphere at secondary schools, and is interested in teaching a particular subject as opposed to the general sciences taught at lower grades.

Miner realized he wanted to be a teacher during his freshman year of college. At the time, he was just majoring in physics, and he saw a lot of opportunities to become a teacher. After almost a month of student teaching, Miner is enjoying his time at the high school.

“It is definitely fun to work with all of the students,” Miner said.

Another student teacher looking to prepare for a career in education is Dr. Chris Sosa. Sosa is paired up with physics teacher Sean Templin to teach various levels of the subject. He comes from an impressive background, as he graduated from Columbia University before going to Princeton University for graduate school. Majoring in chemical engineering, Sosa would like to teach both physics and chemistry.

Sosa’s experience student teaching has been a very positive one so far.

“It is a great opportunity to learn,” Dr. Sosa said. “Part of being a teacher is learning.”

Student teaching is a program where future instructors can get a taste of their soon-to-be career in an ideal learning environment, and what better environment to learn the ways of teaching than Hillsborough High School? 

When asked if they would work here if offered a job, both Miner and Sosa showed no hesitation in answering with a resounding, “Yes.”