When people introduce themselves as middle school teachers, they often receive one of two responses: Bless you! Or Why?!
Faculty in the Middle Level Education Program add a third response: How lucky you are!
For 31 years, CSUSM's Middle Level Education Program has been preparing candidates to teach middle school. We do this because young adolescents (youth from 11 – 14 years of age) are in a unique stage of cognitive, social, and emotional development. They need teachers who not only understand them but also embrace their quirks and challenges.
Graduates of the Middle Level program say that they love the humor and “the daily expressed thanks” they receive. They also appreciate middle school students’ “limitless perspective,” “intelligent thoughts and goofy attitude,” and “their tenacity to problem solve.” Faculty in the program agree!
Teaching middle school is not always easy, but it is always rewarding and full of the unexpected. As one graduate says, “Middle school students are beginning to make big life choices about who they are going to be.” Being on this journey with them is an honor and a joy so please contact Jon Centofranchi, jcentofranch@csusm.edu if you would like to join us!
For more information on middle school in general, connect with Erika Daniels, a member of the Middle Level Education team.