In today’s competitive labor market, the Sheboygan Area School District is placing a priority on finding new and innovative ways to recruit and hire teachers. One strategy is building a robust Student Teacher/Cooperating Teacher program, which pairs experienced educators with promising college students to collaborate in instructional planning and problem-solving while working side-by-side in the classroom.

In the last few months, the Sheboygan Area School District has signed agreements with Lakeland University and UW-Eau Claire to guarantee student teacher placements for their college students. The District is working to add additional agreements with other universities as well.

“These agreements provide a pathway for the District to welcome future teachers into our district to gain teaching experience. When we have student teachers who excel in their role and have already built positive relationships in our school district, our staff can encourage them to apply for open positions in the future,” said Jami Hintz, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources in the Sheboygan Area School District.

As part of the Lakeland University agreement, students who successfully complete the special education program, including student teaching, will be guaranteed a job in the Sheboygan Area School District after graduation.

The Sheboygan Area School District is an ideal destination for new teachers to find their niche. With 25 schools of varying sizes, diversity, specialty programs, and many co-curricular activities, new teachers have choices and opportunities to build a career and become part of the Sheboygan community.

Autumn Smith, a UW-Green Bay student, participated in the student teaching program at Pigeon River Elementary School for the first semester of the 2022-23 school year. She worked with Kindergarten teacher Stacy Wetzel.

Autumn shared, “I could not have asked for a better experience! I have absolutely grown as an educator and have had the best mentors to observe and learn from. I am extremely grateful to the Sheboygan Area School District for allowing me this opportunity!”

This student teaching placement was extra-special for Autumn who attended Pigeon River for elementary school and was a Kindergarten student herself in the same classroom she worked as a student teacher. As a high school student, Autumn was also a tutor at Pigeon River Elementary School.

The Sheboygan Area School District is cultivating its own next generation of highly skilled educators by actively promoting programs to help high school students pursue careers in teaching. Through the Youth-Tutoring-Youth course, high school students can sign up to tutor younger students in an SASD classroom. The District also sponsors a local chapter of Educators Rising, which provides students with opportunities to explore careers in education and prepare for their chosen profession through conferences, competitions, and classroom experiences such as tutoring and volunteering.

Having experienced teachers willing to fill the role of the cooperating teacher is essential to the success of this program. Districts recognize that asking teachers to take on a student teacher is adding to an already full workday. In the Sheboygan Area School District, cooperating teachers get a few perks including a personal day and a $150 stipend toward classroom supplies for a full semester placement.

The Student Teacher/Cooperating Teacher program can be personally and professionally rewarding for experienced educators, as they serve as mentors and coaches, guiding student teachers in their roles and helping them to develop skills in instruction, classroom management, and communication.

“I had an amazing student teaching experience! Stacy Wetzel, my cooperating teacher, was phenomenal. She was very willing to help whenever needed and always had many different options of things for me to try. I could not have asked for a better cooperating teacher,” said Autumn.

Stacy Wetzel has been a teacher at Pigeon River Elementary School for 18 years and was hesitant, at first, to take on a student teacher, because it can be a lot of added responsibility. However, with the semester coming to an end in January, she is an advocate for this experience and the biggest supporter of her student teacher, Autumn.

“Autumn has done a fantastic job this semester and the experience has been beneficial for both of us. I enjoyed watching her grow in her role and take on more responsibilities in the classroom. I even learned some new approaches to lessons as I observed Autumn’s teaching.”

Pigeon River Elementary School Principal Clarissa Ramos said the two are a “dynamic duo” and that Autumn fit right in with the staff. As a student teacher, she interacted with other teachers and support staff in the building, as well as attended staff meetings and school events.

When her student teaching experience is complete, Autumn plans to substitute teach in the District for the rest of the school year while she is applying for teaching positions. Stacy is already hoping to have Autumn substitute teach in her class this spring.

The Sheboygan Area School District had nine full-time student teachers first semester and has 10 placements confirmed for the second semester of the 2022-2023 school year. Three student teachers have already applied as substitute teachers and one has been hired into a full-time teaching position.