The Teach and S.T.E.P. program, now in its fourth year, continues to link Schoolcraft College and Detroit Western International High School in a partnership that shows students a taste of higher education.
A long-running partnership between Schoolcraft College and Western International High School in Detroit has helped expose many high school students to the benefits of attending college.
The Teach and S.T.E.P. program, now in its fourth year, continues to link Schoolcraft College and Western International High School in a partnership that shows students a taste of higher education. Led by duo Ryan Masters, who teaches at both Schoolcraft and Western International; and Janice Tomlinson, an instructor at Schoolcraft, the program gives high school students the opportunity to work with elementary students, giving them hands-on experience in the education world. The students also dual enroll at Schoolcraft, taking CAB 102: College and Beyond.
The high school students recently came to campus to present their capstone projects. One student, Deshawn Echols, said he really enjoyed the program and really recommended other students look at taking college courses while still in high school.
“I would 100% take dual enrollment classes next year with Mr. Masters,” he said. “I got to learn more programs, get more experience and widen my range.”
In addition to working with local groups and taking college courses, the students had the opportunity to visit Schoolcraft College and tour the college after presenting their capstone portfolio projects among their fellow students and Schoolcraft leadership.
Students in the program work with various community groups, such as Soar Detroit, a literacy program for children; and GOAL Line Detroit, which aims to provide Detroit students access to impactful afterschool programming.
Masters said he was proud of the work his students put in this year and was excited at the next steps for all of them. Whether they planned on being mentors for new students next year or they were off to college, Masters said the students had done well at completing their work.
“You’ve done the hard work and now we reap the fruits of our labor,” Masters told his students.
Whether the students decide to pursue a career path in teaching our not, Tomlinson told them teaching is something that’s present in nearly every job they would go into once they complete their schooling.
“Regardless of what occupational area you go into, you’re going to teach,” Tomlinson said. “Teaching is the foundation of every other occupation. That experience is going to be invaluable.”