The Teacher Cadet program was designed to introduce or orientate students to the teaching profession. High school partners offer a Teacher Cadet class for rising seniors with a GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 point scale) and who are enrolled in college preparatory courses. Classes provide the students with opportunities to explore in depth the education field and observe and teach a classroom lesson. The final component of the course involves classroom field experience for four to six weeks where the student assists the teacher with day-to-day activities such as creating and teaching a lesson plan.

The college partner provides speakers for the Teacher Cadet class, in-depth curriculum planning sessions, an invitation to participate in the Teachers of Tomorrow program at WCU, video library materials, and seminars for the high school students, such as lesson planning, volunteering in schools, and proactive and positive classroom management, etc.

The high school partner provides a certified teacher for the Teacher Cadet class who has been trained in the NC Teacher Cadet curriculum, and who is committed to teaching the course. The LEA is asked to cover the cost of a substitute and mileage for the teacher to complete the two-and-a-half-day class. There is no cost for the Teacher Cadet class.

The College of Education and Allied Professions and the Office for Rural Education maintain partnerships with local high school Teacher Cadet programs. Services provided include:

• Speaker’s Bureau
• Resources
• Liaison from the high school class to the University
• Classroom visits
• Teachers of Tomorrow Seminar
• Recruitment initiatives
• Scholarship information
• Elective college credit for Teacher Cadet classes
• Promotion of education as a career
• College Access initiatives
• Liaison from the state Teacher Cadet program to high school teachers