As part of a pathways program, 122 high school students from Sonoma, Marin, and Mendocino counties and the East Bay are dual enrolled in an SSU education class this spring. Education 150 counts toward a minor in education at Sonoma State and enables high schoolers to gain elementary or secondary school experience by volunteering in public school classrooms.
“Though some version of this class has existed for years, the current syllabi and course are part of a series of pathway plans that high schools are implementing – this one for prospective teachers,” said SSU Professor Paula Lane, Chair of the School of Teacher Education and Leadership. In most cases the school offers this particular college class through the career and technical education (CTE) programs in the senior year, she said.
The initiative was started by Dr. Dan Ostermann, Ed.D., College and Career Pathways Coordinator of Petaluma City Schools (PCS) and Dr. Laura Alamillo, SSU Dean of the College of Education, Counseling, and Ethnic Studies.
"When Dr. Ostermann approached me about expanding the course to PCS, I knew this would be a perfect partnership to expand dual enrollment at SSU and to create clear career pathways into teaching,” Alamillo said.
“This course plants a seed in our high school students that teaching is a viable option for them and exposes them to SSU undergraduate and credential programs that can lead them there. We want teachers to come from our community, and dual enrollment begins this path,” she said.
"The opportunity to offer early college credit with Sonoma State University is a unique and powerful opportunity for students enrolled in our Child Development & Careers in Education CTE pathway to deepen their learning while building a strong bridge to SSU. Students are over the moon to be able to expand their education and opportunity through the EDUC 150 dual enrollment course," Ostermann said.
Lane took over coordination of the program in 2023 and expanded the opportunity to include San Rafael schools this academic year.