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COLUMBUS — A program in Columbus is helping students with a desire to become educators with a chance to experience their dream jobs.
Riley Taylor is part of the Teach Education Program at C4.
"I've always wanted to work with children," Taylor said. "I didn't know if I wanted to be a preschool teacher or a teacher in middle school."
She's now decided she wants to be an elementary school teacher.
The Teach Education Program allows students to work in actual classrooms to experience what it's really like to be a teacher.
There's also an early childhood education program where students can learn through coursework and help run actual daycares.
Students that take part in the program can earn dual credits and certifications, like Child Development Associate.
Instructors, like Jenny Wallace, say the program gives students the opportunity to figure out if they really want to be in education or child care before spending their time and money on the courses in college.
"I mean, they might love babies and love kids, but can they work with them and be patient and have that stamina for eight to ten hours a day," Wallace said.
Right now, there are more than 600 job openings in education just in the state of Indiana and some of the students that are part of the program at C4 are hoping to fill those positions when they finish their education.
The program also allows students to test for national accreditation and gives them the opportunity to get scholarships to further their education after high school.
