Students studying Education at Texas Tech are eligible to enroll in the Tech Teach program, the core Teacher Education Program at the University. Students that are in the second year of Tech Teach are able to apply to be a City Year Corps Member, allowing them to work for one year in the Boston Public School system.
McCumber said that in the Fall of 2019 he learned about the City Year program where he would serve and mentor students in economically disadvantaged areas of Boston, Massachusetts. He said after sending in his application and his interview, he was selected as a First Year City Year Americorp Member.
“Once I accepted the position, I met with a Texas Tech education coordinator.” McCumber said. “Over the next couple of months, we met to go over subjects such as finding housing, budgeting, and figuring out transportation. In July, I was able to make the move to Boston for an 11 month City Year term.”
McCumber said that this program is teaching him that teachers are the key to equality in the classroom.
“I have experienced how much the students have grown and have continued to grow over this year,” McCumber said. “I am getting to see my partner teachers in action, as well as, getting to help my students by giving research tips and providing extra tutoring in Zoom breakout sessions.”
McCumber explained that his time at Frenship helped him grow as an individual and helped him learn who he is.
“Frenship prepared me for this opportunity by having some of the best teachers imaginable,” McCumber said. “With guidance from theatre teachers and directors, I was able to gain confidence and self-esteem to achieve goals I set forth for myself, English teachers helped me to know that I must beat to the sound of my own drum, and having teachers that let me help fellow classmates helped me believe that being a teacher is what I am meant to do.”
McCumber said he knows that the core values he learned at Frenship are what had taken him so far in life.
“My teachers and mentors at Frenship influenced me and helped me become outgoing, curious, servant-leadership oriented, and engaging,” McCumber said. “These are vital attributes for an aspiring teacher.”
Dawn Burke is the Service Learning Liaison for Teacher Education at Texas Tech University and is McCumber’s mentor for the City Year program.
Burke said because of the many programs that Frenship offers students, she feels they are typically better prepared for things like the City Year program.
“Frenship offers so many programs and opportunities for students to be involved so that even as high school students they see how many options they have, not only here in Lubbock, but when they graduate,” Burke said. “Those opportunities provide them with the mindset, experience and confidence to know that they can have an impact on and make contributions to their community in the future regardless of what they end up doing for their occupation.”