Teaching Internships in Independent Schools

In an educational universe where finding and attracting high quality teachers is increasingly a challenge, many independent schools are capitalizing on the "grow your own" approach by offering teaching internships at their schools. These programs span the spectrum of mentored first year experiences for prospects right out of college to full-blown master's degree programs in conjunction with a local university. What they all have in common is an interest on the part of the school to train the next generation of teachers (in a setting conducive to learning about the culture and pedagogy of independent schools), and in some cases, to provide the opportunity to apply for a full-time position once the internship is complete.

Individuals seeking internships and schools interested in posting internship openings should take advantage of the offerings at the NAIS Career Center.

A sampling of independent schools with internship programs in place includes, among others, the following:

Shady Hill School (PS-9, Cambridge, MA): very extensive internship program for elementary school teachers, with much success in recruiting teachers of color.
University School (PS-12, Hunting Valley, OH): Master's degree/certification program, with student teaching in independent and public schools, in coordination with a local university.
Groton School (9-12, Groton, MA): secondary school mentoring-based internship, overseen by the director of studies.
Gilman School (K-12, Baltimore, MD): The Cooper Fellowship brings one or more interns each year to undertake a restricted schedule of teaching, coaching, and advisor roles.
St. Andrews Episcopal School (PS-12, Potomac, MD): two-year program where beginning teachers teach a reduced load in the first year (plus coaching), then a full load at full pay the second year.
Eagle Rock School (ungraded high school age, Estes Park, CO): annually hires a dozen teaching fellows in partnership with Public Allies, Inc. and coordinates their training through Eagle Rock's Professional Development Center.
Holy Innocents' Episcopal School (PS-12, Atlanta, GA): dean of faculty oversees program for internships whereby first year teachers have a reduced load, with mentoring and professional development opportunities via on-campus graduate level courses.
Ashley Hall (PS-12, Charleston, SC): internship program with reduced load at two thirds salary (first quarter co-teaching with a mentor, then reduced teaching load on one's own thereafter).
Hawken School (PS-12, Gates Mills, OH): Internship program in conjunction with John Carroll University for the lower and middle school programs.
Emma Willard School (9-12, Troy, NY): Internship program with strong focus on mentoring.
Culver Academies (9-12, Culver, IN): Several yearly internships offered, with emphasis on teaching, coaching, advising, leadership development.
University Child Development School (PS-5, Seattle, WA): Residential one-year program for interns, with housing and stipend provided.
Phillips Brooks School (PS-5, Menlo Park, CA): the Assistant Teacher Program is designed to promote teacher training and to lower the student-teacher ratio in language arts classes.
The College Preparatory School (9-12, Oakland, CA): Team teaching, staffing of the Learning Center, plus extracurricular activities.
The Town School (PS-8, New York, NY): Associate Teacher Program interns work with a head teacher and are supervised by the division head to develop curriculum and work with students.
Redwood Day School (K-8, Oakland, CA): Full-time interns through the third grade; supervised by and weekly meeting with the assistant head of school in a two-year program, with team-teaching as a strategy.
Wilmington Friends School (PS-12, Wilmington, DE): 18 associate teachers, one in each classroom in lower school, who support lead teachers in all aspects of running the classroom. This apprenticeship, supported by ongoing professional development and supervision, can run 1-3 years, sometimes including switching mentors for a second or third year, or sometimes spending a second year with the same mentor.

Schools interested in developing an internship program would be well-served by observing the programs in place at one or more schools.