As part of Fort Worth ISD’s education program of study, the next generation of teachers are coming from the halls of our district. Michael Henley and Bennett Chairez are two Arlington Heights class of 2022 graduates who successfully completed the district’s education program — and both are using those skills today. Michael is finishing up his last semester of student teaching at Midwestern State University and Ben is working with students as part of his community service work.
Both young men learned a lot about what it takes to change a child’s life through the Fort Worth ISD program. 

Starting in high school, students have two options for pursuing the education program. They can either apply for the P-Tech version at Polytechnic High School to receive an Associate of Art in teaching or, they can enroll in the program of study at neighborhood high schools excluding Carter-Riverside High School.

During their time in high school, students will complete four years of classes:

9th grade: Principles of Education and Training
10th grade: Human Growth and Development
11th grade: Instructional Practices, which includes elementary classroom visits
12th grade: Practicum of Education and Training, which includes elementary classroom visits along with some classroom leading and teaching
Even after graduation, Fort Worth ISD aims to help graduates by placing them as teacher aides in early childhood classes if they are interested. Some graduates also serve as substitutes while in college. The district is committed to recruiting students who graduate from the program to return to the district and teach.

When Michael started his student teaching during his senior year of high school, he saw firsthand some of the obstacles teachers have to overcome. He assisted in a special education class at South Hi Mount and after a teacher quit, he worked with a substitute. Later, he ended up going to Como Elementary School and working with a different teacher in a bilingual class.

Both experiences taught him valuable lessons about communication, empathy, working with kids, and helping all students. 

“My biggest takeaway from it was just learning how to be a friend to those who look like they need it,” Michael said. “I want to be a coach and when you’re a coach you’re gonna have to work with kids no matter how challenging.”

Ben’s student teaching experience took him back to his former elementary school, Ridglea Hills. And, as an added bonus, Ben was student teaching for his previous teacher, Halie Poe, who was a first-year teacher when he was her student.

"I had the honor of being Ben Chairez's homeroom and science teacher my first year teaching," Halie said. "As a fifth grader, Ben had never met a stranger and went all in for his friends and classmates. It was so sweet to have him come back, years later as an Arlington Heights High School intern, and to watch him befriend and go all in for my students." 

Ben learned a lot in that time; patience, lesson planning, and problem solving.

“I went in with the mindset that I was going to leave that place better than I found it. I’m going to try to touch every kid I can,” Ben said. “The least you can do as a student teacher is try to make them smile just a little bit, right? And I kind of went in with that headspace. Turns out, they helped me more than I helped them probably. It was very rewarding.”