'Get the fear out of them'

As a summer school class at South River High School watched a shot of planet Earth cap a Michael Jackson music video, their English teacher jabbed a finger toward the screen.

"Symbol, OK?" Jasmine Coleman said, launching into a lesson on theme and symbols pegged on the video.

A casual observer might not notice, but Coleman is brand new to the classroom. She's one of several teacher recruits entering county schools this year through the Resident Teacher Certification program.

Most are changing careers, and through the program they get hired by the county school system first, then earn their certification...