UTC's Margha Davis and Andrew Patty of Morristown

Students wanting to become teachers often do not get to experience the reality of having their own classes until they begin student teaching as college seniors or graduate students.

But a handful of students at UTC this summer are getting the opportunity as juniors – in high school.

Some 21 rising high school juniors and seniors from throughout Tennessee – including rising 11th-grader Kyle Marcum of Hixson High -- have been taking part in the only Governor’s School for Prospective Teachers in the state.

The five-week session – which is one of several Governor’s School programs throughout the state dealing with different academic disciplines – has a twofold purpose, officials said. Not only is it designed to encourage at a young age some of the state’s brightest students to became teachers, but it is also intended to give the youngsters a real-world view of the education profession.

“The program provides an overview of the myths and realities of the profession,” said Margha Davis of UTC’s Teacher Preparation Academy, who is serving as co-director of the program along with Carl Raus.

Besides taking two college-level classes for credit, the students have also been visiting area attractions and learning how they can be used in an education curriculum. Other aspects of the program have included observing and teaching students attending Youth University at UTC.

They have also heard presentations by several noted Chattanoogans. During a recent session, Channel 3 weather forecaster David Karnes gave them a humor-filled talk.

Mr. Marcum, the only local youngster attending, wants to be a music teacher, so he has found the program very beneficial, he said. In fact, he has realized he will likely use a different teaching style from what he initially thought.

“I was trying more to think of lectures and this has shown me that I need to give them more visual activities,” said the son of Dave and Linda Marcum.

A member of the bowling team, the strings orchestra and the National Honor Society at Hixson, he said he has also been pleased to find some kindred spirits among the fellow students in the program.

“It’s really nice to know there are other kids across the Tennessee area interested in being teachers,” he said.

Stacia Firebaugh of Knoxville’s Grace Christian Academy said that both her parents are teachers, and she has seen from an early age what they enjoy about teaching.

Not only has the program been educational, it has also been fun, some said.

Andrew Patty of Morristown East High School said he has enjoyed the hands-on aspect. “We are not learning about teachers, we are actually going to be teachers,” he said.

For Alyssa Whited of Seymour High in Sevier County, enjoyable aspects have included going to the Creative Discovery Museum and the Challenger Center, where they went on a simulated space mission. “We learned a lot about each other,” she said.

Several have also learned that they still want to be teachers.

Katy Tanner from Knoxville’s Farragut High said she wants to enter the field because she views teaching as the beginning of everything.

“Without teachers you cannot have anything,” she said.

While here, the students are being housed in the Lockmiller Apartments and are enjoying a variety of social activities.

Other staff members helping with the Governor’s School for Prospective Teachers are Jim Thompson, retired Hamilton County teacher; Dr. Beth Dodd, director of Continuing Education at UTC; and Ms. Ginny Reese, director of Youth University and assistant director of Continuing Education

Serving as counselors are UTC education students Stephanie Horn and Allison Rose, and Hamilton County teacher Carl Knight.

Kyle Marcum of Hixson High