Teacher Academy is a hands-on program offered by the TBAISD Career Tech Center in Traverse City, MI. Through this program students are able to get in-the-classroom experience by working with teachers at their home school during the school day and learn what it truly is like to be a teacher. This program has helped students decided whether or not they want to be teachers, what age level they would like to teach, and what subjects they would like to teach.
My Decision
I am going to be majoring in music education because throughout the years, I have discovered that I cannot see myself having a career outside of school and outside of music. Ever since I was in kindergarten I wanted to be a teacher, but it wasn't until I was in 7th grade that I realized I wanted to be a music teacher. Being in the Teacher Academy program has certainly stabilized my decisions for the future.
About Me
My name is Gretchen Heegeman. I am a senior at Mancelona High School and a second year student in the Teacher Academy Program. Since the 6th grade I have been a proud member of the Mancelona Band Program, playing oboe for 7 years and alto saxophone for marching band since 7th grade. I will be attending Central Michigan University in the fall of 2017 and will be persuing a degree in music education.
I joined the Teacher Academy program because I wanted to feel what it was like on the other side of the teacher-student relationship. I have had classes with student teachers in the past and I always wanted to be in their shoes. After years of waiting, I was able to join the program my junior year of high school. It was the best decision I ever made.
Below are my Introduction videos from my two years in Teacher Academy.