For over 20 years, Mineola has run a Teacher in Training Program through its Summer Program.  Recent Mineola graduates who are pursuing teaching degrees work with veteran teachers in the classroom helping kids and gaining valuable teaching experience. This summer we had six: Andrea Agurto, Kelsey Bauman, Meaghan Dougherty, Alyssa Garcia,  Maggie Hardiman, and Chloe Katinas.  It is a wonderful opportunity to begin developing their teaching skills while working a summer job. It is a pleasure to witness them meeting the kids off the bus in the morning, working with students under the guidance of the classroom teacher, and laughing and socializing with the students at lunch. 

Ms. Laurie Melesch, who runs the Summer Program, devises different ways for the teachers in training to get involved and actively participate in instruction.  For example, she had them plan and run outdoor activities for Field Day and met with them to discuss their experiences and to give them suggestions. Many of these highly qualified young men and women end up teaching in the district.  In fact, our current Director of Fine Arts is a former Teacher in Training!  Who says you can't go home again?