Find Your Inner Teacher

By Linda E. Saris and Glenn Burns

Perhaps you have raised children and, like most parents, helped them with homework and surrounded them with enriching extracurricular opportunities and lots of wanted (and unwanted) advice. Or perhaps you are working, studying or retired and have an interest in passing down you expertise to the next generation.

As students yourselves you knew which teachers were great – the ones that sent home interesting projects – the ones that stimulated you (or your child) to think and explore new ideas.

So now is your chance to bring out your inner teacher and translate your skills and experience as a professional (or parent) or a hobbyist with a particular expertise and get a group of middle schools excited to learn more.

LEAP for Education and the Salem Public Schools are partnering to provide all the 6^th and 7^th graders with the opportunity to expand their horizons and learn and do something new in STEM, Digital Design, Media and Marketing, Arts, Business, Law, Government, Civic Engagement or Fitness.

The success of this enrichment opportunity will require the recruitment of twenty volunteer community instructors to share their experiences.

What does a community instructor look like? We are looking for professionals (current or retired), college students or parents. No teaching experience is required. You will be paired up with a school day teacher or paraprofessional. All you need is a passion for working with youth and an area of interest and expertise you would like to share in an engaging, hands-on way.

LEAP will be using curricula and lesson plans prepared by Citizens Schools, a widely recognized non-profit based in Boston MA. Community teachers do not have to prepare lesson plans as they are all done. They will, however, be able to adapt any of the lesson plans.

LEAP will support community instructors by arranging speakers and field trips and providing any supplies needed.

If you have 3 – 6 hours to spend a week from September 25^th through December 11^th from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm on a Monday and/or Wednesday, please contact Kayla Dorst at 978-740-6667 x 114 or email her at kdorst@leap4ed.org.

For more information and to peruse curricula and lesson plans, go to LEAP for Education’s website: http://www.leap4ed.org/programs/expanding-horizons/collins-curriculum/

****

Linda Saris is the Executive Director of LEAP for Education, a Salem-based academic program providing academic support, enrichment, college access and advising services to over 500 youth on the North Shore. Ms. Saris is a long-time Swampscott resident.

Glenn Burns is the Principal of Collins Middle School in Salem, MA

The Cape Ann Farmers Market is TODAY!

3:00-6:30 at Stage Fort Park

Come celebrate with us at a special Cape Ann Community Foundation grant presentation at 3:30 under the gazebo (with our friends and fellow grant recipients Backyard Growers and Action Inc.), then grab a treat for yourself or ingredients for dinner.

Don’t forget: CAFM accepts SNAP/EBT, WIC, Senior Farmers Market Coupons, and cash. AND you can now earn bonus SNAP dollars when you buy fresh fruits and vegetables from participating farmers!

Learn more about our SNAP/EBT programs, check out what else is at the market, and look into our CAFM membership benefits at our website!

capeannfarmersmarket.org