June 23, 2025
White boards formed a spacious half circle in the Ed Collabitat at the University of Missouri–St. Louis Friday morning... The gallery walk was part of a closing ceremony for UMSL’s fourth Future Teacher Leadership Academy. The event celebrated the hard work and dedication of the students who participated in the free, two-week program, which ran from June 9-20. The FTLA is a joint effort between the College of Education and the UMSL Office of Precollegiate Student Services, and it’s designed to encourage high school students in the St. Louis region and beyond to envision careers in education. “We want to be that university targeting future educators,” said Chanua Ross, the director of Program Operations in the Department of Professional Learning and Innovation... “This is what it will take to bring this dream to fruition, and this is a place where we can help you do that.”
The program is built around a dual-enrollment course, “Tch Ed 2000: Becoming a Professional Educator”… Students engaged in a variety of activities to deepen their understanding of the college experience and the education profession. The FTLA also offers a second cohort… “The key is to really understand how to approach a certain situation correctly and how to approach a different type of person than yourself,” said Christian Lovelace, a rising senior and returning student. “Everyone’s different, and every student is not the same…” Nailah Williams, a rising junior at Parkway Central, shared, “After this program, I’ve been more inclined to pursue a career in teaching… it is my way to change lives.”
