Adam Lancto will teach two sections of American literature to sophomores and two sections of world literature to juniors at Grandville High School.

One of the Britons working out of state is A’Lana Bates, who started teaching eighth grade reading and coaching volleyball when the school year began at Abe Hubert Middle School in Garden City, Kansas, on Aug. 12. She found the school district while attending a job fair at Michigan State, nearly bypassing Garden City’s booth which was placed next to a table from a school in Georgia.

Bates noted that Michigan graduates were in demand – 32 of Garden City’s 72 new teachers graduated from schools in the mitten state – but her Albion education still allowed her to be certified wherever she went.

“The education department started preparing me for a career right from the 201 class,” Bates said. “My certification was transferrable across state line. The education faculty did everything to make us marketable.”

A'Lana Bates gathered with her seventh hour class at Abe Hubert Middle School in Garden City, Kansas, for a photograph.

Bates, who hails from Mason but has family members living within an hour from her placement in Kansas, hopes to use the community building skills she developed as a resident assistant at Albion. Her school will soon move into the high school building, and she would like to develop a theater program for students in grades 5-8.

“The existing high school building has a working theater, and I’d like to start using that space right away,” Bates said. “I’m hoping to (develop theater) as an enrichment if not a full club.”

Adam Lancto, who will be teaching English and coaching junior varsity football at Grandville High School, is one of the successful stories of an Albion graduate landing a job in the state of Michigan. Despite intense competition, Lancto was one of nine new teachers hired by the district on the west side of the state and one of two who are in their first year of teaching.

While teaching two sections of American literature to sophomores and two sections of world literature to juniors, Lancto hopes to help his students develop critical thinking skills.

Lancto credited the relationships he developed with everyone associated with the education department at Albion for his success in getting a start in the teaching profession.

“While the larger state schools pump out a lot of education majors, my success came from Albion’s smaller environment,” Lancto said. “Everyone in the education department plays an integral part (in the students’ success) from the secretary to the faculty.

“(Associate professor) Dr. Kyle Shanton) has been one of my saving graces,” he added. “I was struggling one week during my student teaching and he listened. He made me feel ten times better because he didn’t tell me exactly what to do. He led me in the right direction.”

Lancto, a former wide receiver in the Briton football program, said he would return to campus this fall to check on students he mentored who are now in their first year at Albion. He may be back for Homecoming on Oct. 3 when the Fritz Shurmur Education Institute and education department will host a reception for alumni, current students, friends, and family.