Laurel Ridge Community College welcomes its second cohort of Future Educators Academy students

Future Educators Academy Director Lori Killough believes the lab school’s future is bright – as long as it continues to be funded.

Created to help with widespread teacher shortages across the region, Laurel Ridge Community College’s Middletown Campus welcomed its first cohort of students to the lab school in fall 2025. Partner institution, Germanna Community College, got its start the year before. High schoolers first enroll during their junior year, spending mornings at Laurel Ridge and the rest of their day at their home schools. The program is free for the students.

For the students who successfully earn an associate degree in Education at the same time they graduate high school, there is guaranteed admission into the education programs at Mary Baldwin University, Old Dominion University, Shenandoah University, University of Lynchburg and University of Mary Washington, with more agreements in the works. However, they can transfer to any four-year in the state, Professor Killough noted.

“It was a really good opportunity,” said Luray High School senior Emilee Tedder.

While she hadn’t always known for sure she wanted to be a teacher, it was something she had considered since her elementary school days.

“When the opportunity came, I thought, maybe it’s a sign,” Emilee said.

In addition to taking core subjects, like English and Math classes at Laurel Ridge, she is also taking Education courses on campus.

Junior year is always a tough one academically – even when the classes aren’t at the college level – she noted.

“I think our cohort really got through it well and we really supported each other a lot,” Emilee said. “I really liked our two Education classes. Those have been really fun and hands on. Our Foundations of Education class was a lot more focused on pedagogy, and Human Growth and Development was focused on how a child develops.”

She did her practicum last year at an elementary school in Page County, mostly working as a kindergarten aide.

“The FEA has really helped amplify that I want to be a teacher,” Emilee, who hopes to teach high school English, said. “I get really excited sitting in a room with other teachers who are passionate about it.”

Sherando High School senior Maddox Hayes, who hopes to be a history teacher to middle or high schoolers, said his second year at the academy is going well.

“Since middle school, I’ve found I really like to help people, and this is just an opportunity for me to help people as my full-time job and do it all the time,” he said. “My favorite part about FEA is probably how it’s accelerated and I’m going to be two years ahead.”

“It’s a great opportunity to get ahead and get started on my future,” said Hannah Luchetti, who hopes to teach elementary school. “I really like the FEA. I’ve made a lot of new friends already, and I’ve learned a lot about teaching and about myself.”

Ayden Luu, a junior at Stonewall Jackson High School, said being a college student “feels great.”

“I enjoy the challenge and different scenery from high school,” he said.

“The seniors are super-encouraging to us,” said Hannah, who is a junior at Millbrook High School.

Ayden agreed, adding, “They give us a lot of ideas.”

The seniors offer advice and answer questions over group chats, he said.

“The chats are also a great way to know our classmates and create bonds with them,” Ayden said.

Killough said she is excited about the second year of the program, which has 19 seniors and 26 juniors this year.

“It’s going well,” she said. “They’re very enthusiastic. The juniors have already started to come together like a cohort.”

The seniors have stepped in as mentors to the juniors, Professor Killough said.

“I’m very proud of the seniors,” she said. “And, these juniors are really stepping up and doing well.”

It’s hoped that the FEA will serve as a model for similar academies statewide, said Professor Killough.

“Other school divisions and community colleges have reached out and asked, ‘How can we build this?’” she said.

There are other lab schools of varying kinds in Virginia, but “one of the awesome things about ours is we’re giving back to the school divisions,” she said.

Professor Killough was referring to the expectation that the students will teach in their local divisions after graduating with their bachelor’s degrees.

“It’s important to keep the FEA going and keep it funded,” she said. “This is a fabulous program. I’ve already gotten inquiries from high school sophomores and high school counselors about next year.”

You can learn more about the program by visiting laurelridge.edu/FEA.