Such was the case with Genetta Vinson. "I initially wanted to be a teacher when I was in grade school and high school. I had my heart set on being a teacher," she shared. "I felt like my school counselor saw an untapped potential. They saw more in me than I had, even though I felt like I had it together. It was a boost in my confidence based on what my school counselor was pouring into me."
However, she didn't get much encouragement from family or some of her high school teachers. Instead, they recommended she look into a career in technology. "I actually ended up going into engineering and computer science. I did that for a while, but my passion was still teaching and education," Genetta said.
Though she followed a path inconsistent with her dream, she found ways to stay engaged with teaching. "Most of the time, I found ways to do so through volunteer work," she said. "Being a Girl Scout leader or tutoring after school and working with different youth organizations just so I could have that touch point with kids."
Even so, she spent several years in a career that wasn't what she wanted in her heart.
Genetta's Breakthrough Moment and Introduction to CERRA
"My daughter was in high school, and we were going through some of her things," she reflects. That's when Genetta realized she could still pursue her dream. "I thought, 'I'm going to be a school counselor,' because I enjoyed advising her, some of her friends, and my mentees at those youth organizations on how to begin college planning and career planning."
She took the brave step of going back to school. "I ended up going to school during COVID to get my master's degree in school counseling and education so that I can be a school counselor. I would be an educator!"
When she thought about the career change, she knew it wasn't what other people would do, but it was the path she wanted to take. "I could have stayed in engineering. If you think about the two professions, it's almost a no-brainer if you're looking at it from a salary standpoint," she said. "But it's bigger than salary, so that didn't mean as much to me as the impact and influence that I could have on the future generation."
Introducing CERRAToward the end of her degree program, Genetta found CERRA, Study.com's Keys to the Classroom partner that provides resources for people like Genetta who have the dream of becoming a teacher.
CERRA (the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention & Advancement) and the Keys to the Classroom program work in conjunction to mitigate the teacher shortage in the U.S.
Teacher Cadets in the program receive free study and test prep materials to prepare them for the ETS Praxis exam, which is a common requirement for state teaching licensure.
Genetta's CERRA ExperienceGenetta originally started her master's degree program in school counseling out of state, but another educator asked if she'd heard of CERRA and recommended she consider it for Praxis prep.
"The state of South Carolina was advertising the Keys to the Classroom program for all educators - for first timers or those finishing up grad school and wanting to go into the school districts," Genetta recalls.
As she researched, she found that part of the test prep for state licensure through CERRA included access to the comprehensive library of Study.com resources for the Praxis exam. "I jumped on that, and it was phenomenal. The whole program was phenomenal!" she recalls. "The mentorship they provide and all these resources, seminars, handouts, and of course the Study.com program that is self-paced as you work your way through all those modules to prepare to sit for your test."
Like others, Genetta found that the test prep materials offered through CERRA were all she'd need to get ready for test day. "I believe that was the main tool that I used to study, because it was so thorough. I didn't feel that I needed anything else," she said. "The modules, the videos, the handouts, the practice questions - I felt very comfortable with what was offered to me, so I didn't feel like I really needed additional study materials. I relied solely on Study.com."
And it paid off.
"I took my Praxis, and I passed the first time!" Genetta reported.
The Value of CERRAOne of the major initiatives of the Keys to the Classroom and CERRA partnership is enabling greater support for BIPOC educators to get into the classroom and "diversifying the teacher pipeline."
Populating schools with effective and compassionate teachers is critical; however, "studies show that students are more likely to succeed when they have teachers who look like them," said Dana Bryson, the VP of Social Impact at Study.com. She states that the goal of the Keys to the Classroom program is to "help reduce the teacher shortage by removing some of the barriers to becoming a teacher."
The partnership between Study.com's Keys to the Classroom program and CERRA offers 500 licenses to South Carolina students on the path to becoming teachers. These licenses open the door to the tools that helped Genetta pass the Praxis on her first attempt.
"I think first-generation or those who are underserved will definitely benefit from that (CERRA program)," Genetta stated. "If you could make it into college, then you have the CERRA program and the Keys to the Classroom to really support and be that foundational piece. And they'll put you with teachers and those who have experience so you can learn directly from someone who's walked in your shoes, not just a professor but someone who's actually going through those things from start to finish."
CERRA also offers benefits beyond study help and test prep resources. Genetta explains, "Your teacher is going to teach you whatever content they have assigned to them. But the people that you're connected to through CERRA actually provide additional resources for your life development and career development, not just to ensure you're being academically excellent."
The program doesn't end once a new teacher passes the licensure exam. "They do professional development," says Genetta. "Different communities and community partners and businesses actually give through that (program). You can get money, like fellowships, tuition expenses covered, other things for your classroom, but then you get these stipends that you can use for professional development or for your classroom curriculum and materials and things like that."
Genetta's Impact as an EducatorGenetta's experience with CERRA and the support and resources she received through the Keys to the Classroom program not only helped her realize her own dream, but fueled her desire to help others who share the same dream to get the same support she received.
"All the resources and different programs and opportunities that were shared with me - the summer programs or scholarships - I want to be that for the students I'm serving," said Genetta. "Whether they are minorities or underprivileged or low income, they may not know the tools and the pathways, but they have the dream. I want to help them actualize that dream."
Her encouragement as a school counselor to the students at a South Carolina charter school where she works is enriched because of the encouragement she received from her counselor in high school. She, more than others, knows that young people don't always have the support to follow their dreams and need someone to say 'I believe in you.'
"Sometimes you need an outside support system to let you know you got this. You can do these things. You're going to be great," said Genetta. "And that's what I provide for my students, and that's why I decided to be a school counselor."
The Bigger Picture: CERRA's Role in EducationAligned with Genetta's passion for helping underprivileged and under-represented students, CERRA maintains a diversity focus in South Carolina. The pre-collegiate programs recruit high school and college students of color who might not have access to the education or development tools needed to pursue a teaching career.
"This first-of-its-kind partnership with Study.com will also allow CERRA the opportunity to continue to advance its recruitment efforts across our state, provide opportunities and access that mitigate educational disparities, and accelerate the certification process for many prospective teachers," said Dr. Wine-Snyder, the former Director of Pre-Collegiate Programs at CERRA.
Since 1985, the Teacher Cadet program expanded from 4 to over 180 schools in South Carolina, training and preparing more than 71,000 students.