Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
Answers
What is FEA?
The Future Educators Association is an extracurricular program designed to provide middle and high school students with the opportunity to explore careers in education. Many adults recall Future Teachers of America (FTA) clubs in high schools when they were students. FEA is a refreshed and updated version of the same idea.
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Who sponsors FEA?
At the national and international level, FEA is sponsored by Phi Delta Kappa International (PDK) and has nearly 1,000 chapters located around the world. The international FEA office links these chapters together by hosting an annual conference, offering advisor training sessions, publishing monthly newsletters, and maintaining a website with updated information about what chapters are doing worldwide.
In Georgia, FEA is a partnership of PDK and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation and is known as FEA Georgia. The PAGE Foundation provides the state office for FEA Georgia. This office manages the network of FEA Georgia chapters, offers support to FEA advisors through trainings and communications, hosts two annual state conferences, and fields questions from advisors and anyone interested in learning more about FEA.
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Why start an FEA Georgia chapter?
Georgia is already seeing a teacher shortage, and if current trends continue, the shortage could reach critical proportions. According to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC), demand for teachers is increasing while supply from our Georgia teacher preparation programs struggles to meet these demands. PSC projects that 190,000 to 200,000 new teachers will be needed in Georgia during the next ten years. Moreover, 50% of all Georgia teachers are at retirement age or will reach retirement age by 2011. A mass exodus of these potential retirees could cause teacher demand to skyrocket. Additional factors in the rising demand for teachers are increases in student enrollment and the loss of large numbers of novice teachers. Clearly, our state needs to increase the number of capable, caring teachers available to Georgia’s classrooms.
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My school/system already offers Education Pathway Courses/Teachers Apprenticeship Program. Do we really need FEA, as well?
FEA is an important complement to a high school curricular education program. While these programs offer students a “curricular” means of getting a jump on their teacher preparation experience, FEA is an opportunity for those students to be connected to a larger network of students with similar interests and goals. It also serves as an extracurricular opportunity for those students who might not yet be eligible to enroll in an education course (e.g., freshmen and sophomores), who don’t have room in their schedules for the education elective, or who may not be sure enough that they are interested in teaching to commit to a course. FEA is a broader opportunity for more students and can serve as a feeder program to the education course. If your school does offer the education pathway, you may want to consider asking the education teacher to serve as the FEA advisor, since the two can be a great fit together.
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My school/system hasn’t really suffered from a lack of teacher candidates. Why should we have an FEA chapter?
It’s true that the teacher shortage problem does not affect all communities equally. However, there are students in every community who hold the dream of one day becoming a teacher—or perhaps need a program like FEA to awaken that dream in them. An FEA program can be the catalyst to helping a young person find his or her niche in life and to make a difference in the lives of many other students in decades to come. In addition, communities can benefit when, through FEA, students gain perception on education from the other side of the desk. Understanding a teacher’s perspective can prepare young people for their future roles as parents, civic leaders, school board members or education policymakers at the state level.
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What is the Principal’s role in an FEA chapter?
The principal is encouraged to provide guidance in selecting a chapter advisor and promoting the success of the chapter. The principal is also encouraged to be as supportive as possible in approving field trips, fundraisers, etc., and in facilitating means for students to tutor, job shadow, practice teach, etc. The principal’s commitment to a chapter greatly affects its success. More information on the principal’s role in FEA can be found in the FEA Handbook for Chapter Advisors.
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Who can be an FEA Chapter Advisor?
Selecting the best possible chapter advisor is critical to the success of the chapter. It is recommended that this person be a faculty member who is enthusiastic about the profession, a positive role model, and an exemplary leader. The chapter advisor is not required to be a member of PAGE, PDK or any particular professional association. More information on the chapter advisor’s role in FEA can be found in the FEA Handbook for Chapter Advisors.
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How much does it cost to have an FEA in GA chapter?
State affiliation is only $25 per year for both new and renewing chapters. National affiliation is available through PDK. First-year national affiliation is $100, which includes a charter kit. After that, national renewal each year is $65. Please note that the state and national affiliation fees are per chapter, not per individual student (see note below). Among other benefits, state and national affiliations make your chapter eligible for discounted registration prices at state and national conferences.
Please note: FEA members are not required to pay individual membership dues to either the state or national organization. FEA chapters are free to implement local individual membership dues if they elect to do so.
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How do I start an FEA in GA chapter in my system/school?
Step-by-step suggested procedures for generating interest and setting up a chapter are found in the FEA Handbook for Chapter Advisors, which comes in your national charter kit. This handbook will guide you through the steps of getting started and provide you with a wealth of resources for running an active, viable chapter.
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Okay, I’m ready to get started. What do I do first?
APPROVALS - Obtain any necessary approvals from the school administration.
ADVISOR - Identify one (or more) teacher(s) in the school who would be willing to be the chapter advisor(s). Selecting the best possible chapter advisor is critical to the success of the chapter. It is recommended that this person be a faculty member who is enthusiastic about the profession, a positive role model and an exemplary leader. The chapter advisor is not required to be a member of PAGE, PDK or any particular professional organization.
AFFILIATION – Affiliate your chapter by clicking here. Follow the instructions for both state and national affiliation. Please note that these are two separate processes.
HANDBOOK - We recommend that you utilize the start-up information found in the FEA Handbook for Chapter Advisors. Your handbook comes with your national charter kit.
WEBSITES - Finally, utilize the information available on the state FEA Georgia website and the national FEA website.
If you have additional questions, contact the state FEA Georgia state director:
Mary Ruth Ray
Manager of Student Groups
PAGE Foundation
Office 912-654-0087
Toll-free 1-888-413-1078
Fax 912-654-2086
Click here to email
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