Program Participant: Russell Horton

Classified to Credentialed: Meet Russell Horton, Aragon’s New Physical Education Teacher

After five years as Aragon High School’s Campus Supervisor, Russell Horton will hang up his walkie talkie and instead grab his clipboard when he starts teaching PE this Fall! Russell says he was encouraged to take the leap to get his teaching credential when several of his colleagues told him he had the demeanor and patience to be a good teacher. He will complete SMUHSD’s Classified to Teacher program this Spring when he receives his teaching credential from San Francisco State University! The Classified to Teacher program provides tuition assistance or living stipends to current SMUHSD classified employees to earn a bachelor's degree and enter a teacher preparation program, or if they already have a bachelor's degree, enter a teacher preparation program to earn their teaching credential.

Russell credits Aragon’s Lindsay Bussey (pictured with Russell), who also serves as the SMUHSD Classified to Teacher Program Coordinator, with supporting him through the process, “She helped me with the application process, the student teaching process, and the edTPA process. Her support was instrumental in helping me complete the program.”

Russell says he is really looking forward to having his own classes and building relationships with students this fall after his experience as student teacher with Aragon PE Teacher Netty Trimble-Gennaro, “Having her support for student teaching helped me learn and grow as an aspiring teacher.”

For any classified educators looking to earn your teaching credential and become a teacher in our District, Russell gives the following advice: “Utilize all the resources around you to help you make the decision. As a Classified Staff member, you are surrounded by tons of Certificated Staff who have gone through the process already. Pick their brains and ask them any question that may come up for you. I was very lucky that all the Certificated Staff at Aragon were incredibly supportive and answered the hundreds of questions I had before applying to the credential program at SFSU. Reach out to Lindsay to help you with the application process and with any other specific questions you may have. If you’re able to student teach at your site, use your Cooperating Teacher as much as you can. Talk to them if you have some free time, ask to see their Canvas Site, look at their assignments that they have used in their class. The more information you can get during the Credential process, the better off you will be in the long run. The most important piece of advice I would say though, is to just make the jump! If you are on the fence about it, but you enjoy helping students grow and succeed, I think being a teacher is the best thing you can do.”

For more information about the Classified to Teacher Program, contact SMUHSD Classified to Teacher Coordinator Lindsay Bussey at lbussey@smuhsd.org.