GMU graduate students teach at Lightridge

On Oct. 27, graduate students from the George Mason University School of Education visited campus to help Lightridge students with understanding literature. Dr. Kristien Zenkov, a professor of education at GMU and the coordinator of the secondary education program, leads the initiative. 

In 2004 while teaching high school in Cleveland, he and a coworker started the project  after realizing something had to be done about the 67% drop-out rate of students.

 “We started by asking students what they thought about school,” said Zenkov.  “What they thought the purpose of school was. What helped them become successful at school and attend, what got in the way. It quickly turned into asking them about reading and writing and other things.” 

Zenkov explained that the program has students take pictures to explain their thoughts about their reading.

The project focuses on high school students, and giving future teachers the chance to work with veteran teachers. Zenkov said Lightridge was a great place for the program and  explained why they like to work with their GMU graduates like English teacher Lin Rudder.

 “We know they value kids, young people’s perspective,” said Zenkov and went on to explain it was  Dr. Hitchmen’s openness to the project which allowed them to choose Lightridge.

Ekim Tektas, a graduate student and future educator,  explained that working with veteran teachers is a great experience. 

“It gives me the chance of being a forever student and that just helps me learn more and more,” said Tektas.

 Lightridge senior Gabby Aponte shared that this initiative, which has been operating at Lightridge since May of 2022, has been helpful.

“We’re learning about what affects us as readers and what we can do to improve our reading or keep up our motivation to read,” said Aponte.

The GMU students will continue to come back every semester.