My name is Miles Shanor, and I am the Nevada State Education Association Aspiring Educators President, attending the University of Nevada, Reno in a teacher prep program to become a public school English teacher. I ask of the committee to heavily consider the advancement of the Bill Draft Request to Pay It Forward for Nevada’s student teachers by establishing paid student teaching in our state.
The student teaching semester is arguably the most important part of any teacher preparation program. When we are there in the classroom, we are expected to do full-time work and full-time hours. Just a few months ago I had to break the news to my father that my time during these few months would not be compensated whatsoever. And despite knowing this, going in and saving up every single dollar I could, these few months would not be something I’d be able to afford. My father was livid, not at me, but at the current systems in place. He said just a few words that underscore how unjust of an experience this is for future educators. He said, “That’s a labor rights issue. Somebody’s got to get in trouble for that.”
My intention, of course, is not to get anybody in trouble, but to make good trouble for the alumni that I know who have had to pick up serving jobs on weekends just to afford food and gas, for the current student teachers that don’t know how they’re going to make it yet, and for the future student teachers that are figuring it out and need a voice now.
Pay It Forward for Nevada’s student teachers.
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