Brand-new TLC Teacher Pathway at Valencia High School is set to train aspiring teachers in state-of-the-art facility

On October 17, 2018, the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) in partnership with Valencia High School (VHS) hosted an open house for the District’s newest career technical education program, the TLC Teacher Pathway. The TLC Teacher Pathway, which stands for “Tigers Leading Cubs,” also partners with the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program, otherwise known as NOCROP, in addition to Kraemer Middle School and Ruby Drive Elementary School.

Distinguished guests such as Deputy Superintendent, Candy Plahy, NOCROP Superintendent, Terri Giamarino, Director of K-12 Innovation and Technology, Cary Johnson, and other District administrators all gathered in room 703 on the VHS campus to help celebrate the opening of the state-of-the-art program and facility.

To begin, VHS principal, Olivia Yaung, welcomed the crowd and provided a brief overview of the program, including how it offers the ability to work with and develop students to become the next generation of teachers, counselors, and school administrators.

“With the projected teacher shortage in California in the upcoming years, the ability to work with and develop our own students to become the next generation of teachers, counselors, and even administrators is an invaluable opportunity,” Yaung shared. “We hope graduates of our pathway will fill future District jobs as they complete their degrees and credential programs.”

Yaung went on to acknowledge NOCROP and PYLUSD for the vision and effort in bringing the program to life on the VHS campus. She also thanked Kraemer principal, Keith Carmona, and Ruby Drive principal, Diana McKibben, their school’s supportive partnership with the Tigers. Plahy and Giamarino also spoke to the wide variety of opportunities the program provides students.

The program’s teacher, Amy Jensen, shared a more in-depth overview of the program classes including Principles of Teaching and Learning and Teaching Students with Special Needs. She explained what students in the program learn throughout the year, including growth and development of children, classroom management, lesson planning, exceptional student issues, employment research and search skills, and much more.

She then introduced “teachers in training” Getsemani Zambrano, Isabel Martinez, and Jahaira Jimenez to attest to the positive impact the program has had on them as high school students, as well as the young Kraemer and Ruby Drive students.

Principals Carmona and McKibben also had an opportunity to share about their campus’ unique experience with the program thus far.

In closing, Principal Yaung once again offered thanks and praise to those individuals who played major roles in developing and implementing the program in time for the new school year.

“We are so excited about our Tigers Leading Cubs Teacher Pathway,” she said.