By Sofia Montoya-Deck
Published on Sept. 20, 2023
Senior education majors will have the opportunity to earn up to $2,800 this academic year as a result of a recently formalized partnership with AmeriCorps.
AmeriCorps is a federal agency for national service and volunteerism. While completing their 100-day internships in Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS), teacher candidates in Hood’s education program can earn money towards their tuition, room and board, licensure exams and other related college expenses as AmeriCorps volunteers. Students will earn $1,400 for every 300 hours of internship time they complete.
Hood’s partnership with the service agency began when AmeriCorps representative, Lisa Clark, contacted the education department to invite potential teachers to participate as AmeriCorps volunteers. Clark had previous success building a similar program at Frostburg State University and hoped to offer the opportunity to students interning in Frederick County.
Hood’s education department facilitates high-impact learning by giving seniors the opportunity to engage in a 100-day internship in FCPS. This opportunity gives students majoring in early childhood education, elementary education or special education an informative hands-on experience. Hood students majoring in art, biology, chemistry, English, French, history, mathematics or Spanish who are pursuing a secondary teaching certification also have the chance to participate in a 100-day internship.
To ensure a close partnership in the program, the director of Professional Development Schools (PDS), Linda Stuart, met with school principals at all participating PDS sites this past summer. To ensure high-quality internship placement, the department maintains contact with site coordinators at each PDS who work closely with school administration to properly select mentor teachers for each teacher candidate.
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The chair of the Department of Education, Kristine Calo, said, “In the prerequisite phase of the programs, students generally observe classroom instruction and reflect on research-to-practice connections between course content and field observations.” Interns then begin to work directly with small groups of students and may have the chance to teach individual lessons. Eventually, students work their way up to being responsible for overall planning, assessment, teaching and learning in their assigned classroom.
Senior Michaela Redden, who is earning a dual certification in elementary and special education, began her internship at the start of the semester. “I observe my mentor teacher and learn from her,” she explained. “I also teach a few times during my placement and sub.”
Like many other students, Redden said she is excited for the AmeriCorps partnership. “I get to do what I am doing now and then get the opportunity to earn money for my tuition, books and for testing costs also,” she said. “Overall, I can’t wait to partner with them and learn more about the program and all that comes with it.”
Students who take advantage of engaging in their internships as AmeriCorps members will also participate in an additional community service project at either their PDS placement, on campus or another Frederick community location.
“As long as the opportunity exists for Hood College’s Department of Education to be an active AmeriCorps partner in support of our teacher candidates, we will enthusiastically continue this partnership,” Calo said.
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