Four members of the Education Faculty represented the College at the Annual National Field Experience Conference at University of Northern Colorado. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this conference was postponed for two years. Educator preparation programs from around the country come together to discuss student teaching field placements and the challenges of recruiting and retaining not only pre-service teachers, but also mentor teachers and quality programs in the public schools.
Dr. Terah Moore presented a breakout session entitled: “Assessment and the Internship Year—the Perfect Pairing.” Moore described College of Idaho’s unique fifth-year teacher internship/licensure/MAT options.
Dr. Deb Yates presented “Planting Early Seeds for Teacher Preparation” describing the unusual practice of beginning early field experience in the schools during freshmen year, before students have even declared majors.
Attending and supporting the College's team was Patti Copple, Director of Intern/Student Teacher Placements, and Linda Batie, current student teacher supervisor. All attended numerous sessions that will be beneficial for current educational programs and interns.
“It was amazing to meet passionate colleagues from Mississippi, Florida, Massachusetts, and even Alaska, who have the similar struggles that we do here in Idaho-- in recruiting high-quality teacher candidates and keeping them in our profession,” said Yates. “By the time the candidates get to the student teaching year, it’s obvious that our unique fifth-year Internship program has paid off. There are more local field experiences built into our undergraduate classes, which makes for a more seamless student teaching/internship year. It was great to get validation from peers and colleagues.”
The College of Idaho has a 130-year-old legacy of excellence. The College is known for its outstanding academic programs, winning athletics tradition, and history of producing successful graduates, including seven Rhodes Scholars, three governors, and countless business leaders and innovators. Its distinctive PEAK Curriculum challenges students to attain competency in the four knowledge peaks of humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and a professional field—empowering them to earn a major and three minors in four years. The College’s close-knit, residential campus is located in Caldwell, where its proximity both to Boise and to the world-class outdoor activities of southwest Idaho’s mountains and rivers offers unique opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. For more information, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.