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.

Wade Heinen has been a teacher in the Sheboygan Area School District for over 20 years and has been a cooperating teacher to nine college students, including his most recent student teacher, Tyler Burk from Lakeland University.

When asked about his Cooperating Teacher experience, Wade shared, “I had an amazing experience when I was student teaching that truly had the largest impact on my teaching still to this day. The skills that I learned, the experiences I had, and the information that I was provided was critical in my future success. I am now at a point in my career where it is my turn to give back. This means not only taking on leadership roles at my school, district, and community, but also in taking on the next generation of teachers.”

Tyler Burk, a Lakeland University student, participated in the student teacher program during the first semester of the school year with band teachers Wade Heinen at South High School and Paula Harder at Farnsworth Middle School.

Tyler shared, “I have really enjoyed my experience at South High and Farnsworth Middle School. I really enjoyed working with the students because they accepted me as a teacher and gave me the respect that they would give their teachers. Wade and Paula were a huge help whenever I needed something from them or when I had questions.”

“I was also really glad that I was able to be here the whole semester between the two schools because I could see my work through instead of getting the students ready for their music and then not being able to perform it at a concert. Overall, my experience in the SASD has been one that I will never forget,” said Tyler.

The Sheboygan Area School District had nine full-time student teachers first semester and 10 student teachers in the second semester. Six student teachers are now substitute teachers in the District, and two have been hired as full-time teachers.