The Loveland High School Teaching Professions Academy recently visited Miami University in Oxford (Photo by Elizabeth Potts)
by Claire Mirkowski-Purdy
Loveland, Ohio – One of the greatest aspects of Loveland High School is its Teaching Professions Academy (TPA). All students are welcome to take TPA classes. The most popular one this year is Child Development in which students learn how to properly take care of newborns and toddlers.
Loveland’s TPA is partnered with Great Oaks, bringing genuine classroom-like experiences to high schoolers. Every TPA class is a CCP (College Credit Plus) class as well, giving students the opportunity to earn college credit for their TPA classes. Every TPA class is taught by Elizabeth Potts, a marvelous teacher who makes every aspect of TPA possible.
A lifelong friend of mine, Genna Scherpenberg, has been taking TPA classes since her junior year. Scherpenberg explained that as a senior, she was able to earn her Para-Pro License, to be able to teach any student with a learning disability.
TPA also goes on a surplus of noteworthy field trips. For example, TPA went on a field trip in October to the Muñoz Foundation for the GAME PLAN Youth Leadership Seminar. There were many opportunities for students to speak in small and large group discussions, and listen to speeches from Brandon Saho and Cincinatti’s Healing Center. This field trip was a great way for all TPA students to get a boost in leadership and teaching experience. Scherpenberg told me that there was a Cincinatti Reds player there too.
Aside from TPA’s extraordinary field trips, students can also visit nearby colleges. There are scheduled visits each year for TPA students. This year, so far, they have visited Miami University and Xavier University. They are scheduled for a visit to University of Cincinnati soon too.
Genna Scherpenberg has also been given an exemplary internship, teaching and helping third and fifth graders. During high school hours, Scherpenberg leaves third bell to visit her third graders, and during seventh bell she visits her fifth graders.
Scherpenberg has had numerous enlightening experiences that only TPA could offer. According to Scherpenberg, her favorite thing about TPA is “its flexibility, and the ability to be able to choose to do what we want, since the class gives us a lot of leadership.” Between internships, earning a Para-Pro Lisense, getting college credit and attending seminars, it is clear that Loveland High School would not be the same without its Teaching Professions Academy.
