By Michael Nocella

Weedsport Senior Ayla Stark has known she wants to be an elementary teacher for quite some time. So when she got the chance earlier this year to be a teaching intern for her aunt, Weedsport Elementary School teacher Alyssa Crough, it was a no-brainer.

The concept of a teaching internship within the district was a first, so it was a natural fit to pair Ayla in her aunt’s classroom.

“This is actually the first time an internship like this has happened at Weedsport,” Mrs. Crough said. “We are working as a team with the principals, counselors and high school teachers to create this internship. I knew Ayla was interested in becoming a teacher, and asked if it was possible for her to gain real life experience her senior year by working in my classroom each day.”

Ayla said an opening in her senior year schedule made the push for the internship possible in the first place.

“My senior year schedule was filled with study halls, so instead of taking more classes, I was curious if an internship would be a possibility,” she recalled. “I worked with Mrs. Monell, Mr. Cowin, Mrs. Bradtke, Mrs. Crough, and Mrs. Austin to come up with this internship that no one has done before to get first hand experience teaching elementary students.”

Ayla and Mrs. Crough said the experience has been tremendous so far. They both hope it is something that can be replicated for future students in the coming years.

“I love the experience so far,” Ayla said. “The Weedsport elementary facility has welcomed me with open arms. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the students’ love of learning and watching them work through difficulties and succeed.”

“My favorite thing about this experience,” she continued, “is building relationships with the students and watching them learn and grow. Another one of my favorite things about this experience is the confirmation that elementary teaching is truly my passion.”

Mrs. Crough broke down the different responsibilities the internship has tasked Ayla with.

“At this point, Ayla has been doing a lot of observation to see what being a teacher entails,” Mrs. Crough said. “Ayla runs a center during our reading time where she works with groups of students on answering various writing prompts, using correct handwriting and sentence structure. Ayla also works with small groups of students to practice a variety of skills from reading memory words to practicing the spelling patterns of the week. Ayla also walks around the room during whole group instruction supporting all students. As the year goes on, Ayla will start to become responsible for more tasks.”

With the midway point of the school year approaching, both Ayla and Mrs. Crough are looking forward to challenging Ayla with more responsibility in the latter half of the year.

“I started off the year,” Ayla said, “observing in Mrs. Crough’s classroom and have started working individually and in groups with students. By the end of the school year my goal is to be able to develop a lesson plan and teach it under the guidance of Mrs. Crough. I complete a journal entry daily to reflect on my personal progress and what I’ve learned.”

With the internship going so well on both ends, it certainly seems like the internship could have staying power even after Ayla graduates. Mrs. Crough would certainly welcome another senior who was aspiring to be a teacher if the opportunity was there again.

“The internship has been fantastic so far this year,” Mrs. Crough said. “This hands-on learning experience has been a win for all involved. I have learned that it is so important to have future teachers in the classroom getting real life teaching experience. There is so much more that goes into teaching than what is taught in college.”

Ayla said watching her aunt in action has been not only educational, but very rewarding as well.

“One of the best parts of this experience,” she said, “was getting to see her not just as a relative, but as an amazing and caring teacher. She has been so helpful teaching me how to help the students and how her classroom works.”

“I would encourage any student who wants to be an elementary teacher to do this,” Ayla continued, “especially as a senior who is going to college to pursue this career, having this opportunity has given me a head start in learning what elementary teaching is all about.”