Education majors at Crowder, MSU compensated at Cassville R-IV
September 29, 2021
Ezra DeVore & Sheila Harris
A shortage of students pursuing a degree in teacher education prompted the Cassville R-IV district to team with Crowder College and Missouri State University to offer an incentive for those going into the teaching field.
“We started this incentivized intern program in 2019, and it went so well, we wanted to continue," said Traci Mitchell, assistant superintendent of the Cassville School District.
The incentive program - which pays education majors $11 an hour to work part-time in the Cassville R-IV district - offers college students experience in their chosen field, while helping to alleviate understaffed classrooms.
“Last year Covid happened, so we weren’t able to offer it,” Mitchelll said, “but, because of the teacher shortage, we opened it up again this year.
“We want to make sure students get lots of opportunities in the classroom for small-group, one-on-one instruction,” she continued.
The interns, college students from Crowder College and Missouri State, will work with special education students in grades K - 5.
“They need to know how to adjust lessons and differentiate between different learning styles,” Mitchell said, “so working with Special Education gives them knowledge about how to adjust lessons to better meet students’ needs. We’ve even had some students change from a different content area to Special Education.”
According to Mitchell, the Cassville district has experienced a gain of 35 new special education students this school year.
“Our Cassville students love having the extra help, attention, and support,” Mitchell said. “Sitting one-on-one or in a small group, the interns and the students will go over whatever that group or child is struggling with. A lot of times, it’s reading or math, or a core area they need one-on-one help with.”
The Educational Internship Program is so successful that the Cassville district has hired some of the interns as full-time teachers.
According to Mitchell, the main focus of the incentive program is to promote education as a career choice.
“Sometimes it’s hard for college kids to find jobs that work around their classes,” she said. “We want to encourage them and support them, so we’re trying to get them hooked early.”
Interns are allowed to work up to 15 hours a week for $11 per hour. They must maintain status as a full-time student at a participating college or university and will work under the direction of a certified teacher at Cassville R-IV.
For more information, or to submit a resume, contact the Cassville R-IV central office at 417-847-2221.
Ezra DeVore & Sheila Harris
A shortage of students pursuing a degree in teacher education prompted the Cassville R-IV district to team with Crowder College and Missouri State University to offer an incentive for those going into the teaching field.
“We started this incentivized intern program in 2019, and it went so well, we wanted to continue," said Traci Mitchell, assistant superintendent of the Cassville School District.
The incentive program - which pays education majors $11 an hour to work part-time in the Cassville R-IV district - offers college students experience in their chosen field, while helping to alleviate understaffed classrooms.
“Last year Covid happened, so we weren’t able to offer it,” Mitchelll said, “but, because of the teacher shortage, we opened it up again this year.
“We want to make sure students get lots of opportunities in the classroom for small-group, one-on-one instruction,” she continued.
The interns, college students from Crowder College and Missouri State, will work with special education students in grades K - 5.
“They need to know how to adjust lessons and differentiate between different learning styles,” Mitchell said, “so working with Special Education gives them knowledge about how to adjust lessons to better meet students’ needs. We’ve even had some students change from a different content area to Special Education.”
According to Mitchell, the Cassville district has experienced a gain of 35 new special education students this school year.
“Our Cassville students love having the extra help, attention, and support,” Mitchell said. “Sitting one-on-one or in a small group, the interns and the students will go over whatever that group or child is struggling with. A lot of times, it’s reading or math, or a core area they need one-on-one help with.”
The Educational Internship Program is so successful that the Cassville district has hired some of the interns as full-time teachers.
According to Mitchell, the main focus of the incentive program is to promote education as a career choice.
“Sometimes it’s hard for college kids to find jobs that work around their classes,” she said. “We want to encourage them and support them, so we’re trying to get them hooked early.”
Interns are allowed to work up to 15 hours a week for $11 per hour. They must maintain status as a full-time student at a participating college or university and will work under the direction of a certified teacher at Cassville R-IV.
For more information, or to submit a resume, contact the Cassville R-IV central office at 417-847-2221.