Stetson University’s Department of Education has prepared aspiring teachers for the career of their choice, by providing ongoing field experience or internships working in real classrooms with elementary school students in schools across Central Florida. The majority of senior internships are in Volusia County schools, but some schools are located in Seminole, Orange and Osceola County schools.

Helping them along on the journey are the teachers of the classes they are assigned to. These teachers serve as mentors for the interns providing them with the necessary skills for working with diverse populations.

After completing the internship and earning a degree, most of the education graduates will receive a certification to teach in Florida, approved by the State Department of Education.

“I think this internship really gets them prepared for having a classroom of their own.” said Mercedes Tichenor, Ed.D., professor of education. “In fact, some of the graduating seniors already have jobs that started in January. The internship really does support that.”

Stetson University’s Department of Education enjoys an excellent reputation among school leaders in Florida and throughout the southeast. Stetson education graduates are consistently among the teachers and administrators recognized as outstanding member of the profession.

“It was really amazing,” said senior Kristyn Stetson, who interned in a fourth-grade class at DeBary Elementary School. “I learned so much being in the classroom. In class, you learn a lot about the techniques to use. But when you’re in a classroom, you put that in action. You learn not only how to teach, but also the little everyday things that teachers do.”

Senior Ashley Osborne, who interned in a similar position at Citrus Grove Elementary School, said, “It was an awesome experience. I had a fourth-grade class and I learned as much from them as they did from me.” Originally from the Cayman Islands, Osborne hopes to take her experience from the internship and apply it teaching back home.

“We have a strong group of interns and a strong group of cooperating teachers,” said Tichenor. “I think it went very well for them. The teachers served as strong mentors and the students were dedicated and hardworking. We had a good group.”

By David Baker