Georgia teens get a head start with Houston County education program

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Every Tuesday of Teacher Appreciation Week is Teacher Appreciation Day every year.

On each Teacher Appreciation Day, Houston County recognizes its principal teaching assistants who are graduating and on track to become future educators.

Jesse Price said he always knew he wanted to become a teacher.

“It all started when I was in pre-kindergarten,” he said. “That’s when I fell in love with teaching. Of course, it was because I wanted to have fun every day.”

Studying in the Teaching as a Profession classroom at Houston County College and the Career Academy helped him actively work toward this goal.

“It was my English classes, especially my host teacher, Ms. Bagwell, that really helped me develop my love of reading and writing and my desire to be able to teach them to other people,” said Price said.

The 22 seniors were honored at an event held Tuesday in the school board building.

Like Price, they all took the same course.

Those who completed two years of the program earned a certificate, medal, their graduation cords and a letter with their college credits.

Some of his classmates have also completed a year of the program.

Those who were in their second year of the program at the start of the school year gained real-world experience through teaching assistant roles.

Students follow their own paths to different colleges after graduation, including Georgia Southern University, Mercer, and Fort Valley State University, to name a few.

Price, who attended Northside High, is now on his way to Middle Georgia State University.

But before that happens, “During the summer, I will be teaching at the Aviation Museum,” Price said. They have STEM-based summer camps, so I’ll be teaching kindergarten for two weeks.”

Since the program has been around for a while, some alumni are spread across the state; many returned to Houston County, where they began their high school careers.

A’Daysia Bivens says she is still taking classes a year into her role at CB Watson Primary.

“It all started with the program,” she said.

Many teachers say that being an educator is not an easy job, but it is certainly one of the most rewarding.

“It’s not just me investing in them; it’s them investing in me and making me a better person,” Bivens said.

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