During the 2022-2023 school year, USD 490 teachers mentored seven student teachers as they completed their student teaching practicums in elementary education, physical education, and special education.
Part of earning a degree in education is hands-on experience in classrooms. That requirement allows future teachers to apply the teaching knowledge and skills they learned under the guidance of a seasoned educator. The mentor teacher provides feedback on lessons, classroom management advice, and shares best practices with their student teacher to help them improve their practice.
Robert Isenhour joined the classrooms of middle school SPED teacher Bruce Hilyard, Blackmore PE teacher Kent Kunkel, and high school PE teacher Dommi Locke first semester. Hayley VanDegrift worked with Blackmore teacher Jessica Denner.
Paige Samuels spent first semester with Carla Varner at Blackmore and is working with Rusty Williams at Skelly this semester. Mrs. Williams has noticed a big difference in Samuels’ confidence level in her interactions with students since the beginning of the semester. Samuels is hopeful to work in El Dorado or the surrounding area after she earns her teaching license.
Conner Belcher learned about upper elementary classrooms from Denise Johnson at Blackmore last semester, and is learning about younger elementary from Chasity Soloman at Skelly this semester.
“Conner has been such a great aspect to our classroom family,” Soloman said. “He connects with students in such an amazing way and his ability to catch on from where I left off is inspiring to see. Conner is going to do great things as an educator.”
Lauren Davis, former Grandview secretary, returned in the fall as a student teacher in Tonya Cogan’s classroom, where she remained for second semester. Davis’ son, Levi, loved being in Mrs. Cogan’s kindergarten class, so Davis was excited to have the opportunity to student-teach with Mrs. Cogan. Davis said her favorite thing about being in the kindergarten classroom is the theming. Every two weeks or so, they decorate the classroom in a new theme to coordinate with the lessons.
“Being in the classroom is a whole new perspective,” Davis said. “You get a glimpse from the office, but I discovered I really knew nothing of the details that go on daily inside a classroom.”
Skelly teacher Jennifer Gingerich was joined by Tiffany Hilton in January. Hilton will leave the second week of April to finish her teaching semester in Denmark. 
Tailor Kelty joined Page Pound’s class at Skelly in January. She said the experience has been invaluable in learning how to manage classroom behaviors. After being in USD 259 last semester, Kelty said she has really enjoyed the smaller setting in USD 490 because it allows her to develop a better relationship with each student and has more of a family feel.
These internships are a wonderful learning opportunity for everyone in the classroom. The student teacher gains valuable experience, the seasoned teachers see fresh perspectives and students benefit from being immersed in different teaching styles and having extra support in their learning.