I must admit as I began my internship/student teaching I was frightened. I almost backed out of doing it all together. I lacked confidence, worried about how my mentor might feel about someone taking over her classroom for a little while, and wondered if I was capable of being a successful intern/student teacher. Now, that I have completed it I can honestly tell you that many of my most treasured life lessons and memories are from the time period of my internship.

Wow, did I learn so much. I honestly feel that had I not completed my internship I would not be prepared to take over a class of my own.My university classes were good, but I feel that during this experience is where I really learned how to be a teacher and what the career is all about. Since I did complete it, I cannot wait to get a class of my own...and although I know that I still have many things to learn and master...I embark on my career as a teacher with confidence, excitement, and a year's worth of priceless experience. Not to mention I ended my internship with friendships that will always be remembered. My mentor became a friend and taught me much. My students became my teachers and I fell in love with each of them. I cannot express how thankful I am to have had such an amazing experience.

Stacey Webb
University of Houston Clear Lake
Interned at Bay Elementary

As a former student teacher of UHCL, I can only say the entire experience was great! My mentor teacher really prepared me for my current job! We still keep in touch (I loved her wealth of knowledge). Really take heed to the comments you are given (from professors, mentors, and peers) and store them in your make it better next time file. The world of wisdom and lessons you learn from the student teacher program is worth every ounce of time you into it! I highly recommend this program.

Sherri Colyer
Weber Elementary teacher
5^th grade(UHCL)

Looking back, I never would have thought that internship would help as much as it has. Do not get me wrong, the work, time and effort that it takes to go through the process is strenuous but truly worth it. There will be times that you question the assignments and begin to ask, “Why didn’t I just go through Alternative Certification?” Let me tell you that without internship I have been lost during my first year of teaching.

The connections that you make with school faculty and supervisors will last a lifetime. During my first week of teaching in my own classroom, I had a handful of people I was able to call and email at anytime of the day. Your mentor and supervisors become more than people that observe and grade you; they become your support group and close friends.

Many of you may have already been in a classroom environment and have established your own methods of teaching. Please listen and try the suggestions made by mentor and supervisors, they have been teaching and observing long enough to provide you with practical ideas that will only make you a stronger teacher.

Jennifer Brewer
Intern at League City Intermediate