Air Force photo by Margo Wright

LaTrice Clipper, an Emerson High School 12th-grader, listens to Christine Schacher outline methods of working with children under her care at the Child Development Center East. Students from the Oklahoma City school spent part of Oct. 11 shadowing the Tinker professionals. (Air Force photo by Margo Wright)

Seeing shadows: Students visit base for job shadowing program

Published Oct. 22, 2007
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Tinker offered opportunities and possibilities to 17 students from downtown Oklahoma City's Emerson High School Oct. 11.
   Through a job shadowing program, the young women, who are also parents, toured Tinker's childcare and family services' facilities.
   "These students got to see something that most students don't get to see," said John English, Force Development program analyst. "I hope they left here with the understanding that if this is something they would like to pursue then they have the information (needed) to make decisions with regard to education and training."
   Shortly after arriving at Tinker, students were divided into smaller groups and escorted to several facilities to shadow a professional in child development or family services. Groups went to the east and west child development centers, the Family Support Center and housing services.
   Seventeen-year-old Rashawn Cooper, mother of 2-month-old Davari, was one of four students who shadowed at the CDC East.
   "I'm interested in the field and interested (to know) how others do it," she said as she rocked a young girl in an infant daycare room. "I'm not sure what career I want, but I'm looking into child development."
   Carmelita Brazille, an early care and education teacher within the Career and Tech Education program at Emerson, said, "This is an excellent program and it gives students an opportunity to interact with professionals in various careers. I hope they get as much information about the career they are shadowing to help them make a choice as to something they want to do or something they do not want to do."
   The Oct. 11 event marks the third time Ms. Brazille has brought Emerson students to Tinker for the job shadowing program, and the second time in two years, Mr. English said.