Early Discoveries-YMCA of South Hampton Roads
Virginia Beach Technical & Career Education Center

This workforce development program provides high school students with the opportunity to gain first hand, on the job experiences in the field of education. With over 1080 hours of lab and classroom experience, students learn about best practices in education, and have the opportunity to apply classroom lessons to real teaching experiences. Lead teachers act as mentors to Tech Center students, who, in turn, provide an "extra hand" in the classroom. In the process, they learn about safe and healthy practices and compliance with state regulations, child development and assessment, cultural diversity issues, interpersonal skills, divergent learning styles, and lesson planning. This Model Partnership truly provides an opportunity for Tech Center students to serve and develop as educators.