Our licensure program is a hands-on, 10-month long program designed for career changers and recent college graduates who are interested in pursuing a teaching career.
Experiential Learning
The UVEI model differs significantly from university graduate programs in education. Believing that teaching is an art best learned through practice, UVEI reverses the percentage of time traditionally allotted to academic theory (with us, 20%) vs. classroom practice (80%). In our internship, each candidate works full-time in a classroom under the supervision of a mentor, chosen from among the best professionals in the region.
This 10 month internship focuses on the mastery of 10 teaching standards of competency, all of which must be demonstrated by the intern in order to graduate. This experience is reinforced by weekly seminars and by observation and support
How the Program Works
Interns begin with a self-directed induction period in July, an orientation in August and ongoing seminars that take place once-a-week from August through early June. In the classroom, their responsibilities are increased gradually and deliberately. They instruct classes, work with small groups of students, and otherwise function as real teachers. They are expected to report to school early, attend staff meetings and parent conferences, assess student work and prepare materials at home. As they gain experience in their placements, they are producing evidence of competency on an ongoing basis through observations and coaching conversations, structured performance assessments, and external tests such as the Praxis that are required for licensure.
There are times during the year when the pressures on interns of the program become quite substantial. This pressure is neither accidental nor contrived. Pressure in teaching is a reality with which educators must learn to cope with using skill, resilience and humor.
Work Side by Side with a Mentor Teacher
The mentor teachers in whose classes interns work are chosen from among the best professionals in the region. Interns are observed and supported by faculty coaches on the UVEI staff who are also highly experienced educators. The purpose of the seminars and the aim of the mentor teachers are the same: to help interns develop and demonstrate their competence as classroom teachers. Demonstrating competence in each of the ten teaching standards is by far the most important requirement for successful completion of the program.
Teacher Licensure
UVEI is approved by the state of New Hampshire to recommend Teacher Internship Program graduates for licensure in the following areas. Applicants to the program are asked to select one (or in some cases more than one) of these endorsement areas to pursue. Teacher Internship Program graduates frequently also receive licenses in Vermont, and in other states that are part of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement.
- Elementary Education (K-6)
- English (5-12)
- English (5-8)
- Mathematics, Middle Level (through Algebra/Integrated 1)
- Mathematics, Upper Level (Pre-Algebra to AP Math)
- Social Studies (5-12)
- Social Studies (5-8)
- Chemistry (7-12)
- Earth/Space Science (7-12)
- Life Sciences (7-12)
- Science (5-8)
- Physics (7-12)
- World Languages: French (K-12)
- World Languages: German (K-12)
- World Languages: Spanish (K-12)
- Visual Art (K-12)