Strong Partnerships

The Office of Educator Preparation (OEP) and USM’s educator preparation programs build and maintain strong partnerships with regional school districts and educational organizations, which offer our students the opportunity to gain experience in a variety of urban, suburban, and rural school settings. The superintendents, principals, and teachers in our partner districts value their partnerships with the University, and our alumni have a strong job placement rate in the districts where they have completed student teaching internships.

Early Field Experiences

Field experience is the undergraduate student’s first opportunity for classroom observation and hands-on activities in elementary, middle, or high school classrooms. During this preliminary practice, you’ll have time to explore what it means to be a teacher before you take on the responsibility of student teaching. OEP works closely with faculty and partner schools and organizations to provide meaningful placements for your early field experiences.

Learn more about teacher education field experiences here.

Student Teaching Internships

OEP is responsible for the outreach, development, and coordination of internship placements in USM’s educator preparation programs. The Manager of Partnership & Field Placement Development works closely with school personnel and university faculty to orchestrate placements for interns according to geographic location of the intern, content area, and availability of mentor teachers in partner schools. Placements in a particular district cannot be guaranteed.

Districts and Educational Organizations Available for EFE and Student Teaching Internships

  • Biddeford Schools
    • New Staff Orientation is AUGUST 24th. 
      • The principals will input the details of the intern into Biddeford’s system which begins a series of steps on the district’s end (school email, badge, etc.). During New Staff Orientation, the district will also have a session for all interns to complete any paperwork for substitute teaching (as that often becomes an opportunity for them). 
  • Gorham School District
    • Need DOH to run a criminal background check
    • The intern needs to have approved CHRC
    • Intern needs to complete a substitute application (frontline)
    • Intern completes a short orientation (date tbd) including completing new hire paperwork and receives a picture ID Badge
  • Lewiston Public Schools
    • Each district school takes the intern under their wing, and the district HR department will interact with them to be registered as substitutes as needed so they can take over for the teacher in lieu of a sub if that is needed.
  • MSAD 6 – Bonny Eagle
    • Send a copy of  CHRC to Sarah Rideout (srideout@bonnyeagle.org), Central Office.
    • Make an appointment to visit HR at SAD 6 Central Office to obtain a badge any time in August.
    • Contact the assigned mentor before starting to work out the details at the building level.
  • Old Orchard Beach Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
    • Attend orientation on August 24, 2026 – – More details to follow
  • RSU 14 – Windham
    • **To be provided by the district
  • Sanford School Department
    • This link takes you to the onboarding process of the Sanford School District.
  • South Portland School Department
    • Complete the application.
    • A member of HR will send a welcome email and an invite to join Frontline Central and complete required paperwork. 
    • Once your program starts, you will be issued an identification badge to wear in your school. 
    • New Staff Orientation will be held on August 19.  Details to follow
    • A Criminal History Record Check (CHRC) is required in the South Portland School District.  If you have not obtained your CHRC, initiate the process as outlined below: 
    • Step 1 Log into or create an MEIS account Instructions on how to make your MEIS account
    • Step 2: Apply for Criminal History Record Check with these instructions
    • Step 3: Fingerprinting: Here is information on Fingerprinting, including where to register: https://www.maine.gov/doe/cert/fingerprinting
  • Westbrook School Department
    • Complete an intern application. 
    • Return the application to Maureen DeGremier in HR.  
    • Once approved by the Superintendent, interns  can then complete the hiring paperwork in case they sub (and get paid).
    • Attend the opening workshop days (August 27-28, 8am-3pm) which take place at your school. 
    • Classes begin for Westbrook students (August 31, grades 1-12), (Sept 2 for K), and (Sept 3 for PK). 
    • Attend the opening district luncheon and meeting on Friday, Aug 28 at noon. 
    • Superintendent Lancia  would like to meet with Westbrook placed interns as a group on Friday, August 28 for an hour of orientation, 9-10am.
  • AOS 93 -Central Lincoln County School System
  • AOS 91 – Mount Desert Island Regional School System
  • Auburn School Department
  • Bangor School Department
  • Brewer School Department
  • Brunswick School Department
  • Falmouth Public Schools
  • Five Town Schools/MSAD 28 – Appleton * Camden * Hope * Lincolnville * Rockport
  • Maine Academy of Natural Sciences
  • MapleStone School
  • MSAD 1 – Presque Isle * Mapleton * Chapman * Castle Hill * Westfield
  • MSAD 11 – Gardiner * Pittston * Randolph * West Gardiner
  • MSAD 15 – Gray * New Gloucester
  • MSAD 17 – Oxford Hills
  • MSAD 51 – Cumberland
  • MSAD 52 – Turner * Greene * Leeds
  • MSAD 55 – Sacopee Valley
  • MSAD 60 – Berwick * North Berwick * Lebanon
  • MSAD 61 – Lake Region
  • MSAD 72 – Fryeburg * Brownfield * Denmark * Sweden * Lovell * Stoneham * Stow * Chatham, NH
  • MSAD 75 – Bowdoin * Bowdoinham * Harpswell * Topsham
  • RSU 2 – Kennebec Intra-District Schools
  • RSU 5 – Freeport
  • RSU 9 – Mt. Blue
  • RSU 10 – Western Foothills
  • RSU 12 – Sheepscot Valley
  • RSU 13 – Rockland * South Thomaston * Thomaston * Owl’s Head * Cushing
  • RSU 16 – Poland * Mechanic Falls * Minot
  • RSU 21 – Arundel * Kennebunk * Kennebunkport
  • RSU 22 – Hampden
  • RSU 29 – Hammond * Houlton * Littleton * Monticello
  • RSU 34 – Old Town
  • RSU/MSAD 35 – South Berwick * Eliot
  • RSU 40 – Union * Friendship * Waldoboro * Warren * Washington
  • RSU 57 – Waterboro
  • Saco School Department
  • Scarborough Public Schools
  • St. George MSU
  • Wells-Ogunquit CSD
  • Yarmouth School Department
  • York School Department
  • Boston Child Study Center
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine
  • Eastern Maine Counseling & Testing Services
  • Maine General and all Affiliates
  • The Root Cellar
  • Woodfords Family Services