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.