Aliya Valles of Long Beach knows she wants to be a teacher \u2014 she\u2019s just not sure how she\u2019ll get there.<\/p>\n
So at the College of Education\u2019s Day at The Beach showcase Saturday, she and her mom, Roya, attended info sessions and pored over paperwork to figure out what academic pathway to take.<\/p>\n
Aliya Valles, left, and her mom, Roya Valles, came to Day at the Beach to learn more about the pathways Aliya could take to becoming a teacher.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The college offers many ways to become a teacher, ranging from accelerated programs to paid residencies to dual-credential options. The possibilities feel vastly different now compared to when she was studying human development at Cal State Long Beach, Roya Valles said.<\/p>\n
Valles is leaning toward a traditional pathway: earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in Liberal Studies and then applying to a credential program. UTEACH, which helps students become teachers more quickly and offers built-in classroom experience, also interests her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a really rewarding profession. You get to watch kids grow up and learn right in front of your eyes,\u201d Valles said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s very good with kids,\u201d Roya, a former preschool teacher, said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s a career path that\u2019s not going away. AI isn\u2019t going to replace teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n
At Day at The Beach, students, faculty, staff and administrators showcased College of Education programs, resources and student experiences. Many of Saturday\u2019s guests have committed to CSULB, while others are still on the fence.<\/p>\n
Dean Anna Ortiz emphasized what\u2019s unique about Liberal Studies, the college\u2019s lone undergraduate program. Students bypass general education requirements and begin teacher preparation courses right away.<\/p>\n
Nat Hansuvadha, chair of the Liberal Studies Department (left), and College of Education Dean Anna Ortiz give a welcome address at Day at The Beach.<\/p>\n
The college is a leading producer of teachers in California\u2019s state university system, she said, and offers wide-ranging support from dedicated advisors, engaged faculty and student-led organizations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re always either one or two in the CSU in terms of producing teachers,\u201d Ortiz said. \u201cSo I think we’re really good at it, and our faculty and our staff know how to support students in their teaching journey.\u201d<\/p>\n