Student Teachers Get Plenty of Hands-On Practice

As families buy school supplies and dust off backpacks, another group of students is also preparing for the coming school year. Student teachers are in schools each year, learning and sharpening teaching methods.

These fledgling educators usually fully of youth, enthusiasm and energy. By the end of their time in the classroom, they're teaching kids full time and preparing lesson plans.

Kelsey Schuessler, who completed her student teaching last school year at in the , said her experience was positive. After completing her studies at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, Schuessler began her teaching internship.

“I always wanted to care for people,” Schuessler said. “In college, I found psychology courses and children’s developmental stages interesting. And that got me interested in education.” 

Student teachers typically request an area in which they'd like to teach, and then are assigned to a school. Schuessler said there was some confusion at UMSL, though, so she ended up finding her own position. Schuessler worked under fifth grade teacher Vera Karsch. Schuessler described Karsch as having "tons of experience." 

Student teachers begin the semester-long internship observing in their assigned classroom one day per week. As the semester progresses, they take on more responsibility in the classroom. 

“At the end of the process, we have two intensive weeks when we do everything from lesson plans and teaching to dealing with parents,” Schuessler said. “It was a blessing to have other teachers who I could go to with questions or problems.

"(Karsch) relinquished her class to me and let me take ownership of the education process. It takes a special teacher to trust her class to a student,” Schuessler said.

Observers, including the school principal and the classroom teacher, monitor student teachers’ academic work and classroom experiences. Schuessler said student teachers maintain portfolios from their semester of work and are graded on their performance.

"Like many of our student teachers, Kelsey was enthusiastic and had a great rapport with students," said Debbie Palazzola, administrative intern at Shenandoah Valley Elementary.

Schuessler earned her education degree and has led her first classroom as an art teacher in Parkway’s summer school program. While she doesn’t have a teaching position for the fall, she has had a few interviews and hopeful. She said she may pursue a master’s degree with the goal of working as a school counselor.

“I enjoy teaching because I can have a positive impact on students’ lives. I’m confident I can help them be the best they can be. That will be my goal in my classroom,” she said.