Internships and Post-Graduate Opportunities

 SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AND JOBS:


If you are considering teaching as a career, or even for a few years following Bowdoin, you should “test the waters” with at least one summer internship or experience working with children.  One of the best starting points for locating summer opportunities is Peterson’s Summer Camps and Programs (link to www. http://www.petersons.com/summerop/code/ssector.asp) searchable database.  Every program listed has to hire a staff, so if you find one that interests you, contact them to inquire about their hiring needs.  The Education Department also has a hard copy 2009 edition of Summer Programs for Kids and Teenagers, with similar information.  Hiring timelines are usually around February – April, although check with each program for specific details. 

For most internships and jobs, you will need a good résumé and cover letter.  For details, visit Career Planning and check out their tipsheets at http://bowdoin.edu/cpc/handbooks/tipsheets2008/

Upward Bound:  Upward Bound provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. They serve high school students from low-income families and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.
For more information, check out http://ed.gov/programs/trioupbound/.

Breakthrough Collaborative:  Breakthrough Collaborative is a national non-profit that increases educational opportunity for high-potential, low-income middle school students and inspires outstanding college and high school students to pursue careers in education.
http://breakthroughcollaborative.org/

POST-GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION:


Bowdoin Teacher Scholars:  Students who have completed their Teaching minor and would like to pursue secondary teacher certification may apply to be a Bowdoin Teacher Scholar. 
For more information, check out http://bowdoin.edu/education/bowdoin-teacher-scholars/

Graduation Study in Education:  In addition to preparation for secondary school certification and a teaching career, courses in the Education Department also prepare students for graduate studies.  (Students who wish to be certified on the elementary school level must do so through a graduate program.)  Master of Arts in Teaching programs usually combine graduate study in a teaching field with professional course work leading to certification.  Certification programs in areas such as guidance or administration are offered only at the graduate level, usually with the requirement of prior teaching experience.  Doctoral programs vary in requirements and emphasis.  The history of education, curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, and the sociology or anthropology of education are options in the field for liberal arts graduates.

Teaching in Independent Schools:  State certification is not usually a requirement for teaching in independent schools.  Candidates for positions in independent schools should have a strong academic background in the subject area they would teach, demonstrated experience working with children through internships, volunteer work, etc., and interest in coaching and/or assisting with extracurricular activities.  You should consider utilizing alumni networks to locate hiring faculty in schools of interest, and you may also want to register with a placement agency to locate open positions. For a list of placement agencies, go to http://nais.org/career/placementCompanies.cfm?sn.ItemNumber=142458&tn.ItemNumber=142469

Charter Schools:  Charter schools are independent public schools (most are nonprofit organizations) designed and operated by educators, parents, community leaders, educational entrepreneurs, and/or others.  They are authorized/chartered by local or state education agencies or organizations that monitor their quality and effectiveness, but allow them to operate somewhat outside of the regimented practices of traditional public schools.  In general, you do not need to be a certified teacher to teach at a charter school, although it certainly helps if you are.  You can find a searchable listing of charter schools in the US at http://edreform.com/charter_schools/maps/.

ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS:

Teach for America:  Teach for America corps members spend two years teaching in America’s most under-resourced classrooms.  http://teachforamerica.org/

Inner City Teaching Corps:  ICTC is a non-profit education and service organization that helps empower children in the most under-served areas of Chicago.  Corps members receive professional development training and Alternative Teacher Certification through Northwestern University.  http://ictc-chicago.org/

Mississippi Teacher Corps:  The Mississippi Teacher Corps is a competitive, alternate-route teaching program serving critical-shortage public school districts throughout Mississippi and culminating in a master’s degree in education from the University of Mississippi. http://olemiss.edu/programs/mtc/

Shady Hill School Teacher Training Course:  The Teacher Training Course (TTC) provides aspiring teachers with well-guided experiences in pre-K through eighth grade classrooms where practice, merged with theory, is paramount.  Immersion in the classroom while studying and working alongside a talented mentor is the best way to learn how to teach.  In this one year, site-based preparation program, apprentice teachers discover what teaching is all about through observation, supervised teaching, workshops, seminars, and continuous involvement in the life of the school.  Many apprentices also participate in a master's program at either Lesley University or Tufts University. http://shs.org/podium/default.aspx?t=45714

The Pike School/Lesley University School-based Internship/M.Ed. Program: Designed for people with little previous teaching experience, The Pike School/Lesley University School-based Internship/M.Ed. Program (Teacher Training Program), in conjunction with Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, seeks to develop reflective, visionary educators. This one year, site-based teacher training program leads to Massachusetts initial lcensure and a master’s degree in elementary education. 
http://pikeschool.org/home/collaborate

There are many other programs designed to provide support and assistance in getting certified and/or receiving a master’s degree in teaching.  The Career Planning Center can help you locate these opportunities, or speak with an Education Department professor about your specific goals.

OTHER EDUCATION AREAS TO EXPLORE:

Environmental Education:  Work with kids in the outdoors, teaching natural science, literature, environmental history and love of Mother Nature.  Job postings can be found at http://eelink.net/pages/EE+Jobs

Museum Education:  Working in the education department of a museum, science center, aquarium, zoo or interpretive center is a great way to interact with children and schools.  Entry-level jobs are hard to come by, but not impossible, and many people gain great experience as post-graduate interns. 

Americorps:  Americorps is a one-year funded opportunity to participate in national community service.  A huge number of education-related opportunities can be found on their searchable database at americorps.gov.  A modest living stipend and healthcare coverage are provided, undergraduate loans are deferred, and you receive money toward graduate school (or cash) upon completion of your term of service. 

Readak:  Readak places recent college graduates in host non-public schools for 3-5 weeks to teach study skills and learning skills.  A great way to gain exposure to a variety of schools in a short time while also teaching.  For more information, go to readak.com