Students complete Teacher Ed. internships

A group of Stetson University students have successfully completed their Teacher Education internships in central Florida schools. Stetson’s Teacher Education internship program is designed to prepare students to work with diverse populations by allowing them to experience teaching first-hand with mentor teachers. The majority of the students do their senior internships in Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola County schools.

Internship opportunities are offered at the elementary, middle or secondary levels. Students begin their field experience with their very first education class and continue it throughout their time at Stetson. Students in the internship program gain real-world experience by being in the schools every day, all day, over a duration of 15 weeks – teaching, grading and planning for their classes.

“The internship is a culminating and capstone experience for our students,” said Stetson Education Professor Dr. Mercedes Tichenor, director of Student Teaching.

During their field work, students are able to link theory to practice. Including the full-time internship, they must take two classes connecting the coursework with their work done in the field.

Although it is a challenging program, students become equipped for their first year of teaching. It is not unusual for students to be hired by the schools at which they did their senior internships. Many students have also been honored with “Teacher of the Year” awards upon completion of the program.

Listed below are the students who successfully completed the Teacher Education internship program this month (their hometowns, majors and the schools where they interned are listed, as well):

-Xavier Gonzalez, Spring Hill, Fla., music education-instrument general, interned at University High School inVolusia County

-Desiree Drager, Port Orange, Fla., elementary education, interned at Sweetwater Elementary inVolusia County

-Adam Lippold, Orange City, Fla., music education-instrument general, interned at Buddy Taylor Middle School andFlagler Palm Coast High school inFlagler County

-Alex W. Sanchez, Deltona, Fla., elementary education, interned at Woodward Avenue Elementary inVolusia County

-Jacqueline Horbet, Maitland, Fla., elementary education, interned at Woodward Avenue Elementary inVolusia County

-Hanna Riege, Montauk, N.Y., elementary education, interned at Woodward Avenue Elementary inVolusia County

-Nicole E. Tacker, Ormond Beach, Fla., elementary education, interned at Pathways Elementary inVolusia County

-Kristen Minor, Oviedo, Fla., elementary education, interned at George Marks Elementary inVolusia County

-Lauren Bateman, DeLand, Fla., elementary education, interned at Woodward Avenue Elementary inVolusia County

-Sandra Perry, Apopka, Fla., music education-voice, interned at Colonial High School in Orange County

-Lindsay Caughel, Orlando, Fla., social sciences in secondary education, interned at DeLand Middle School inVolusia County

-James Pecar, Harper Woods, Mich., music education-voice, interned at DeLand High School inVolusia County

-Meaghan Doolittle, Orlando, Fla., elementary education, interned at Woodward Avenue Elementary inVolusia County

-Damon Wille, Winter Park, Fla., music education-instrument general, interned at Indian Trails Middle School in Seminole County