The student teaching semester is a critical component to a student’s development as a teacher. Using their strong relationships with partner schools and understanding each student's goals, faculty work to align each student's experience with a school and cooperating teacher according to their personality, teaching style, and interest in city, suburban, or rural districts.
During student teaching, education majors are supervised by Grove City College faculty who have personally guided them throughout their studies. Faculty focus on teaching skills and classroom management and observe the students at least six times in their classrooms. After each observational visit, the professor meets with the student to discuss the effectiveness of their lesson and suggests areas of improvement. Supervisors meet regularly with students for developmental coaching in one on one and small group settings. Student teaching lasts 14 weeks, allowing students to gain experience across certification and grade bands.
Due to the work of a career development office dedicated specifically to the education department, Grove City College education majors find themselves in high demand. Many secure employment before graduation, and 97% of 2021 education majors were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.
Many education majors become certified and licensed teachers in Pennsylvania and other states while other graduates take unique teaching positions in missions work or other fields. Still others go on to pursue graduate degrees in education and related fields.
No matter the path, students are mentored and support in their search of that first position. Education Career Services, the department's dedicated career office, helps students identify the opportunities they would like to pursue after graduation and assists them in completing the required steps to obtain those positions.
Grove City College's commitment to helping graduates be teachers of impact extends beyond their four years on campus as Education Career Services remains accessible to alumni throughout their career.