Fifth grader Faith Martinez leads a lesson on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as part of the “Take a Look at Teaching” program at Carroll Hill School
The activity began with a read-aloud.
“You can be a King. Remember how you felt when you were treated unfairly.”
Students in Ms. Rutter and Ms. Franz’s class listened to “Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream & You,” but it wasn’t their classroom teacher doing the reading. Instead, the lesson was led by Faith Martinez, a Carroll Hill fifth grader and member of Ms. Wilcox’s “Take a Look at Teaching” group, a program that encourages students interested in becoming teachers to explore the field of education.
Martinez and her teaching assistant, Adrianna Mann, led the activity ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, sharing the story with the fourth-grade class and discussing how students can embody Dr. King’s dream in their everyday lives. They then distributed materials and guided students through a craft activity inspired by the book.
Wilcox said the program, supported by the district and the Troy Teachers Association and funded by a grant from New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), is designed to give students real-world experience and insight into what it means to be a teacher, while also exposing them to the many career paths within education. The experience offers a unique perspective for fourth- and fifth-grade students as they prepare to transition to middle school. For students just beginning to think about their strengths, interests and future goals, the experience offers an early glimpse into leadership, responsibility and service.
“Teaching is a hard job, right?” Wilcox said. “And so just planting that seed and saying you don’t have to be a classroom teacher. You could be an art teacher, you could be a social worker. You could be a counselor.”
For this activity, Wilcox asked her colleagues to volunteer their classrooms, allowing student teachers to step into a familiar space and lead a lesson with younger students. The opportunity allowed Martinez and Mann to return to classrooms they once sat in – this time standing at the front of the room.
“I remember growing up, I didn’t know what I wanted to be, and I always wanted to help people, but I didn’t know how I wanted to help,” Wilcox said. “Just being able to plant that little seed, and watching them light up or work through challenges with other students, those are the things I love.”
Martinez and Mann pose with Ms. Wilcox, Ms. Franz and Ms. Rutter after the activity
For Wilcox, the program represents both a reflection on her own career and an investment in the future.
“There are so many things open to us,” she said. “As I’m at the end of my career, it’s nice to see that I’m reaching back and bringing some young ones up.”