Rudy Serrano was influenced by his teachers at Great Valley Elementary School.

So much so that he wants to pursue education as a career.

“I’m going to become a teacher,” said Serrano, 14, who attended the Manteca Unified kindergarten- through- eighth- grade campus in Weston Ranch prior to enrolling in TEACH! Academy.

“Teachers have made a difference in my life, and I want to make a difference in the lives of my students, one day,” he said.

Serrano is one of the 26 trailblazing students in this new early college high school program – a joint effort by the San Joaquin County Office of Education, Venture Academy Family of School, Teachers College of San Joaquin, and Delta College – introduced as freshmen-only but will grow out each year. More on that.

Talia Godfrey of Stockton is also in the program. As far as her influence of becoming an educator, she didn’t have to look no further than her mother, who is currently a vice principal at one of the local schools.

“I was already interested in going to an early college high school but found out about TEACH! Academy,” Godfrey said at Friday’s media event held in front of the Teachers College of San Joaquin building on the SJCOE facility.

She and Serrano see TEACH! Academy as a fast pass towards achieving their goal.

“I’m excited about their future,” said Ripon Unified Superintendent Ziggy Robeson, who serves on the program’s advisory board.

She’s well aware of the need for teachers, having filled more teaching positions this year than any other year during her eight years at the district.

Robeson and San Joaquin A+ CEO Don Shalvey are both “homeless romantics” on the future of education. Hence, the need for TEACH! Academy to eventually become a pipeline in filling those positions.

“As we come out of the (COVID-19) pandemic, I think we will see more of need for teachers,” Shalvey said.

Once Serrano and Godfrey graduate from the program – TEACH! Academy will add one new grade level in each of the coming years – they would also come away with an associates degree from Delta College. But it doesn’t stop there.

They would be directly in line for an affordable pathway towards completing their bachelor’s degree at Humphreys University, and getting their teaching credential at the Teachers College of San Joaquin.

“We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity this program will provide for the students enrolled this year and for those who will attend in years to come,” said SJCOE Superintendent of Schools Troy Brown. “The launch of this school is a testament to hard work of our SJCOE teams and our partners.

“We look forward to continued collaboration to grow this program and to nurture the students here into the talented educators of the future.”