In an exciting development for the teaching profession, La Trobe University’s unique Nexus program has recently produced its first group of classroom-ready secondary school teachers.  In their first year, students work part time in schools and receive direct mentoring opportunities and professional development. Second year Nexus participants become full-time paraprofessionals in their schools, with a 0.8 teaching load and even their own class while they study. To talk about this hands-on teaching program, I’m spoke with Nexus director Professor Jo Lampert.

Lampert says the program's Master of Teaching (Secondary) qualification is part of the federal government's high achieving teachers program and, as such, the program is "diligent and rigorous" in selecting a cohort of students. The La Trobe academic also emphasises the strong social justice element, aiming to place beginning teachers in traditionally hard-to-staff secondary schools in low SES areas and students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

One of the bonuses of the program, which is also supported by the Victorian government, is that the students are paid while they are studying -  a huge relief for any student. And while the program has been kept deliberately small in its initial phase (roughly 30 students are accepted currently), Lampert believes it could be "ready for some growth".

In an exciting development for the teaching profession, La Trobe University&rsquo;s unique Nexus program has recently produced its first group of classroom-ready secondary school teachers.&nbsp; In their first year, students work part time in schools and receive direct mentoring opportunities and professional development. Second year Nexus participants become full-time paraprofessionals in their schools, with a 0.8 teaching load and even their own class while they study. To talk about this hands-on teaching program, I&rsquo;m spoke with Nexus director Professor Jo Lampert.
Lampert says the program's Master of Teaching (Secondary) qualification is part of the federal government's high achieving teachers program and, as such, the program is "diligent and rigorous" in selecting a cohort of students. The La Trobe academic also emphasises the strong social justice element, aiming to place beginning teachers in traditionally hard-to-staff secondary schools in low SES areas and students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
One of the bonuses of the program, which is also supported by the Victorian government, is that the students are paid while they are studying -&nbsp; a huge relief for any student. And while the program has been kept deliberately small in its initial phase (roughly 30 students are accepted currently), Lampert believes it could be "ready for some growth".

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