RISE celebrates graduation of first members

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

CCISD celebrated the graduation of the first members of their Rising Instructors Soaring in Education program, or RISE. CCISD celebrated by presenting the three with goodie bags and inviting them and the others in the RISE program to enjoy cake and refreshments.
2 RISE students, mother and daughter duo Adriana Fox and Marie Fox officially graduated and walked across the stage at Indiana Wesleyan University last weekend. Stephanie Arevalo is expected to graduate in July.
Lori Hensley, director of extended learning, called the RISE program a fast-track for staff members to become teachers.
“We saw a need for us to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers,” said Hensley. “We already have some amazing people here in the district and we saw a way to take advantage of that. We partnered with Indiana Wesleyan University and Teach Worthy, which is an alternative teaching program, and we’ve created some accelerated pathways to teacher certification.”
She said that those in the program are able to take local courses and courses at IWU in order to earn their bachelor’s degree. From there, they finish with Teach Worthy. They can earn up to 30 hours locally. Then they will need 120 hours to graduate with IWU. She said that this program is really beneficial to the district.
“We are able to take committed people from the district who are already committed to our students and our community and our district and help them complete their education to become certified teachers which is a real blessing to our students and our campuses here because they are highly qualified and they get that job imbedded training as well as that pedagogy from their studies at IWU,” said Hensley.
Hensley said that they’ve seen a phenomenal impact to the district with the RISE program. She said that the teachers in the program are very well prepared since they receive both on-the-job experience with the district as well as support and training with IWU. She said this better prepares them for success in the classroom.
Both Stephanie Arevalo and Adriana Fox teach at C.R. Clements/Hollie Parsons Elementary.
“They really changed my life with this program…I can’t thank Copperas Cove enough for that,” said Adrianna Fox. “I love my school. I love teaching 1st grade.”
Adrianna Fox said that they were approached with the offer, and they were excited to take advantage of the opportunity. She said that it was amazing being able to teach and make money while also working towards their degrees.
“They trained us a lot,” said Marie Fox. Fox teaches with Copperas Cove Junior High School.
Marie Fox said that the two drove 16 hours to Indiana Wesleyan University so that they would be able to graduate and walk before they got back in their car and drove the 16 hours back home.
“It was definitely worth it,” said Marie Fox. “It felt great walking across that stage. I’m so glad we did it.”
Both mother and daughter plan to continue their education and eventually earn their master’s degrees as well.