January 2020 Issue

4
JANUARY 2020 • EDITOR PAULA COLON
FFEA hosts first rally as president chapter at West Broward
PLAYING AROUND: FFEA Trendsetter and junior Kiera Cerino with sophomore
Elizabeth Guerra interact with the baby bobcats during their ECE
class. ECE recently merged with FFEA and allowed for ECE students to
further progress their education interests. Photo by Paula Colon
Paula Colon
Editor-in-Chief
Tadhg Holder
Staff Writer
Many students choose to pursue their
career interests in education as early as
high school. Students are fostering their
passion for teaching through clubs and organizations
that center around education,
such as Early Childhood Education (ECE)
and Florida Future Educators of America
(FFEA). By doing this, students are forming
the ability to impact not just the rest of their
own lives but those of the next generation.
West Broward FFEA, advised by eightyear
club sponsor Michelle Wilson and
led by President and senior Matthew
Singh, hosted their first rally on Dec. 4.
The club, which incorporates ECE and
Trendsetters, planned and held the Winter
Rally at West Broward. With 13 schools,
the club organized a toy drive and games.
They also invited West Broward Principal
Brad Fatout, a previous FFEA member,
to serve as the guest speaker at the event.
“I am grateful for the opportunities we get
where we are able to interact with all these
students,” Singh said. “This year has been
a year of growth with incorporating ECE
and being the president chapter, so we’re
able to put on the best event for everyone.”
FFEA and Trendsetters at West Broward
centers around providing a forum
for students to become aware of career
opportunities in education by attending
local and state level FFEA conventions,
and even visiting local elementary
schools to work with young students.
“I love that we go to Panther Run after
school to work with the second and
third graders,” said senior FFEA member
Megan Audette. “I want to work with elementary
school kids when I’m older,
so I saw this as a perfect opportunity.”
This school year, FFEA at West Broward
has incorporated the ECE program
into their club. FFEA partnered with ECE
to bring more students interested in the
education field into their organization.
“These programs open many doors for our
students,” said ECE teacher Dawn Vasquez.
“They leave high school with real world
experience, state and national industry
certifications, career ready and most importantly
ready to be a difference maker.”
West Broward’s FFEA program has been
the county’s president chapter for two consecutive
years. As the president chapter,
they hold and lead meetings to plan for
not just rallies but for local and state conventions.
The chapter’s student president,
Matthew Singh, has been the county’s student
president for two consecutive years.
“As the county President, I have to attend
multiple meetings every year with
other officers and advisors where we discuss
what we’re going to do at our rallies
and any other events we hold,” Singh said.
FFEA attended the 6th Annual Future
Educators of America Regional Conference
on Nov. 22 at Florida International
University (FIU). They were given the
opportunity to participate in competitive
activities and career workshops.
“We placed second in both the ethical
dilemma competition and the essay
writing competition,” Audette said. “I
know the ECE students did well with
the poster competitions so it was nice to
see them doing good for their first year.”
The winter rally was Polar Express
themed, so members came in their pajamas,
and enjoyed a hot chocolate station,
with the goal of interacting and networking
with members from other chapters.
Additionally, the rally held a toy drive for
less fortunate children in Broward County.
“Heart Association is a program that helps
Broward County students that are displaced
and don’t have homes right now,” Wilson
said. “We help support the students in need
in Broward County. All 15 schools came
together. We collected over 100 toys.”
As for the future of FFEA, they will continue
working with ECE to bring in more club
members and ultimately create an impact
on the future of West Broward’s students.
“The goal really is to promote students
to become educators in the future, and to
give them exposure, whether it’s going to
the elementary school, we do every week,
so the kids tutor little kids, and they decide,
‘Oh, I love teaching,” Wilson said.
OUR PRINCIPAL: FFEA members pose with Principal Brad Fatout (center)
at their winter rally hosted at West Broward. Fatout was the president of
South Broward’s FFEA program as a high school student, and later became
West Broward’s Principal in 2018. Photo by Felicia Burgin