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HHS Future Educators at Signing Day

On Wednesday, April 30, nine Huntley High School seniors participated in the school’s second Educator Signing Day event. Much like athletes signing a commitment to play a college sport, the students signed a commitment to pursue future careers as educators at a two-year or four-year college or university after graduation. 

Huntley High School currently offers an education pathway for students interested in exploring a teaching career. The three-part pathway includes the following:  

  • Human/Child Development course (for sophomores): This course covers the development of humans from conception through infancy, toddler ages, and into preschool. This class also covers safety at each stage and the professional careers that are involved with children and families. 
  • Education Pre-Internship (for juniors): This class focuses on the social/emotional, cognitive and physical development of school-aged students. Students get to write basic lesson plans, observe school-aged students throughout the district, and meet faculty across the district. 
  • Education Internship capstone course (for seniors): This course is for students who’ve taken the previous two courses and offers students the opportunity to work one-on-one with a Huntley 158 teacher for a semester. Here they gain insights into being a teacher while getting comfortable in a classroom and connecting with students.  

Additionally, HHS launched a new after school club this year called Educators Rising for any student potentially interested in an education career. Educators Rising is a national Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) dedicated to cultivating a new generation of highly skilled educators. This semester, students in the club learned about early childhood education from Huntley 158 teachers and instructional coaches and then had the opportunity to design and teach their own art lessons to preschoolers at the district’s Early Childhood Center.  

According to Nick Wedoff, CTE department chair, and Jaclynn Avner, family and consumer sciences teacher who teaches the education courses and spearheaded the educator signing event, the number of students enrolling in the human/child development course has increased over the past three years, the pre-internship course has run near capacity, and the internship class has started to gain traction. In the future, HHS hopes to open the educator pathway to freshmen and increase student interest in a foundational education dual credit course with McHenry County College. 

“These students are the future of our profession, and it's only through education and experience that they will be set up for success,” said Avner. “I hope this pathway provides students with a clear idea of their future plans and goals. Some students leave the course knowing definitively that they do not want to teach, while others experience a deep sense of purpose solidified by the experience. Our future educators deserve recognition and support in a time when our profession desperately needs those passionate people to pursue their dreams of being in a classroom one day.”  

Huntley 158 Superintendent Jessica Lombard, who spoke briefly at the educator signing event said, “You are the future role models, mentors, cheerleaders, and changemakers. You will be the ones who inspire students to find their passion, believe in themselves, and chase their dreams. There is no greater calling and we could not be more proud of you.” 

Lombard went on to say that when the HHS future educators finish their education and apply to teach in Huntley 158, they will be guaranteed an interview. “Because we don’t just believe in the future of education…we believe in YOU.”

Senior Colin Hochmuth, who participated in the event and plans to be a teacher, said, “Growing up, I wasn't a great student. My mom was sick with cancer throughout my childhood, so I wasn't focused on school. I did the least you can do in order to pass my classes. And then I met my 10th-grade biology teacher, Mr. Labas. He had known I was struggling and what was happening at home. When he asked me what I wanted to do with my life, I told him I had no clue. He then said, ‘Why not teach? You're a great people person, you're charismatic, and you're caring.’ I had truly never thought of it, but it lit a fire under me.”

Hochmuth has since turned his high school career around and has consistently carried a 3.5 GPA. He has also committed to following his dreams and will play Division I football on a full scholarship at Stetson University. 

“Due to Mr. Labas changing the course of my career, he changed my entire life,” said Hochmuth. “I want to be that person who not only changes somebody's life, but also their perspective on learning. I think that is the largest change needed in learning. Perspective changes everything.” 

Another aspiring educator and HHS senior Lauren Overhage said, “When I was in school, I had a couple of teachers who really made a difference in my life, and that stuck with me. I want to be that kind of person for someone else. I want to be someone who helps, encourages, and makes learning fun. I chose education because I believe every kid deserves someone who believes in them. School can be tough, and I want to be the kind of teacher who helps students feel seen, supported, and capable. Making a difference, even in small ways, really matters to me.”