Under the direction of Career and Technical Education teacher Karen Pettus Osborne, the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow is a class offered at Randolph-Henry High School to rising juniors and seniors. 

“This class has been revamped and now branches out into the community to show students how to be potential leaders as well as teachers,” school officials said in a press release. “This class builds students’ self-esteem, improves their leadership skills and affords them a chance to explore many job opportunities.”

Twelve cadets began building their foundation for this class and their future by taking trips, volunteering at school functions, working at various agencies in the community and shadowing a teacher. “They ventured near and far, visiting the Charlotte Court House Library, the University of Richmond and Apex. Interaction ranging from helping to make flowers, pumpkins, lanterns, playing games and socializing with different generations occurred between the clients from Charter Oak and the cadets at Randolph-Henry. Cadets received recognition for their attendance at the Charlotte County School Board Meeting,” officials said in the release.

Students traveled to Bacon District and Eureka Elementary School to read to students in grades K-2. “Cadets volunteered their services at the annual Special Olympics. They shadowed teachers at Phenix Elementary and Central Middle School for four weeks, assisting them with the daily classroom routines and teaching a lesson. Upon completion of the shadowing … their chosen teacher evaluated them.”

While objectives for the class were established, guest speakers throughout the school division spoke to the cadets on special education, career choices in education, job interviews, educational barriers, job descriptions and licensing requirements for educators. Cadets acquired more information regarding the teaching field.

“Among the invited guest speakers were Dr. Nancy Leonard, superintendent of the Charlotte County Public School System; Sharon Hall, executive director of instruction and finance; Robbie Mason, principal of Randolph-Henry High School, Dominique Foster, assistant principal of Randolph-Henry; Alison Gibbs, social worker for Charlotte County Public Schools; and Janet Owens, special education teacher.”

Everyone donated a lot of time and effort, ensuring the success of the plans outlined for this class, officials said.