Teacher TRAC Director Sue Parsons addressed members of the Board of Trustees during its meeting last Wednesday to display the national award the program received from Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society during the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs Conference March 2-4 in New Orleans.

The Phi Theta Kappa Teacher Preparation Program Award recognized Cerritos’ exemplary efforts to prepare students for careers in education. In addition to Parsons being in attendance, Gabriela Gonzales, a teacher education student and Cerritos College President Dr. Noelia Vela were along on hand to accept the award.

Vela said that with the award Teacher TRAC has received it has characterized the program’s “high level of excellence with its faculty and staff as well as its students.”

Board President Tom Jackson agreed.

Not only has receiving the award recognized the high level of excellence, “but it also recognizes the program as a product of Cerritos Collge” is the level of commitment to students who want to be teachers.

Afterward, students who are currently in the Teacher TRAC program say that the award is meaningful because of what the faculty to for not only them but for all future students.

Alexandra Torres, liberal arts major, said that she has been influence to become a teacher by those who work at Cerritos. Having just found out commented that it is great for the program “because everyone is so helpful and are willing to help out when necessary.”

Erika Flores, liberal arts major, agreed.

She was there to support the program itself and other who are involved. Although she has attended Cerritos for one year what Teacher TRAC does is let students gain experience for the career you are going into.

That is students should know about the program.

In addition, she said that she had not known that program had won until the night of the board meeting.

Flores said that the reason she wanted to become a teacher is because she loves to interact and help people and will teacher elementary school.

As for why elementary students she commented, “You will catch them when they’re young.”

She continued, saying that she had wanted to become a teacher for five years and when she first was looking for a teacher program the end result was that Cerritos had what she’d been looking for.

Parsons had more to say following the meeting.

Having been director since the beginning of Teacher TRAC in 1999 she said that the award received and presentated by those in the Phi Beta Kappa, with former Teacher TRAC student Gabriel Gonzalez represents Cerritos as a whole.

Gonzalez sent a letter of recommendation to members of Phi Beta Kappa.

She could not be reached for comment.

“I hope that what this means is that students who are in the program will become great teachers,” Parsons said, “and also if more students the opportuntiy to explore if he or she is not sure of what to do as a career.”

She added that she does believe that community colleges around the state have to have open doors for students interested in teaching.

That’s why this program is so important, “because the more than 200 students that are currently in the program are my heroes because of wanting to better their community.”