Senter addresses future educators at VGCC Symposium
Area residents interested in pursuing careers in education met at Vance-Granville Community College’s third Future Educators Symposium on Jan. 29 in the Civic Center on the college’s main campus.
Elic A. Senter of Franklinton, an education consultant with the North Carolina Association of Educators, was the guest speaker. Senter, who is currently the mayor of his hometown, graduated from Elon College with a bachelor’s degree in science education before teaching at West Forsyth High School and later Wakefield High School in Raleigh. There, he was named Teacher of the Year for 2003. In 2006, he joined NCAE, where he helps member educators with instructional, certification and licensure issues. He also delivers professional development to teachers across North Carolina. Senter’s address focused on the importance of diversity. “For 40 years, when we said diversity, we meant race,” Senter said. “More recently, we have expanded our understanding of diversity, to include things like customs, culture, geography, and nationality.” Senter urged educational professionals to learn about their students, not to make assumptions about them, and to bring the various perspectives and experiences of students into the classroom as a teaching tool.
Following the address by Senter, participants attended three break-out sessions, including one led by Dr. Shirley Arrington of the North Carolina Model Teacher Education Consortium, on “Support for Becoming a Teacher,” another with Dr. Abram Liles, Director of Classified Personnel for Granville County Schools, discussing “What Employers Are Looking For in Teachers and Teacher Assistants,” and a session on transferring into North Carolina Central University by NCCU School of Education recruiters Denise Robinson and Carmen Dorsey. Janita Allen and Blondina Small, both of J.F. Webb High School, assisted VGCC Teacher Associate program head Jacquelin Heath with planning the symposium.
VGCC’s education programs include Early Childhood Education , Teacher Associate and Lateral Entry , which helps adults with bachelor’s degrees to become certified teachers. For more information on the Teacher Associate program at Vance-Granville, contact Jacquelin Heath at (252) 492-2061, ext. 3298.
Above: Elic Senter (standing) makes a point while addressing high school students, college students and others at the Future Educators Symposium, held at Vance-Granville Community College on Jan. 29. Seated behind Senter are VGCC Dean of Arts and Sciences Dr. Michael Ellis (left) and VGCC Teacher Associate program head Jackie Heath. (VGCC Photo)
