Future Teachers at Lewiston-Auburn College
Earn Candidacy Status
The CLASS (Collaborative Learning And School Success) professional
teacher program at the University of Southern Maine’s
Lewiston-Auburn College is proud to announce the achievement
of candidacy status for six of its students. Christina Gardner,
Cherie Lanier, Julie LaPlante, Jennifer Meagher, Jenny Chase,
and Angie Crooker have successfully completed scholarly and
practicum work in the elementary education field attaining proficiency
in child development, content knowledge, technology, diversity,
educational philosophy, and professionalism. These students
will continue to study and research the elementary education
field at the graduate level.
Dr. Paul G. Caron, assistant professor of CLASS: Mathematics
and Science, stated that during candidacy the students work
with mentor teachers at two professional development partner
schools in Auburn: Sherwood Heights Elementary School and
Auburn Middle School. “Based on the concept of simultaneous
renewal, both the mentor teachers and candidates collaborate
to create and apply learning curricula and practices based
on current research.” Added Caron: “They share
their knowledge and talents in creating effective learning
environments benefiting all students.”
In addition to attending regular classes for their academic
major, the CLASS candidates spend one and a half days per
week at one of the partner schools, and devote at least 4-5
hours of this time with students in the classroom. The candidates
are beginning the process of making connections between what
they’ve learned and what they see in the classroom.
Achieving candidacy status gives the students more time to
practice the theories they’ve researched and studied.
According to Jenny Chase, “Making it through candidacy
to me means that I am even closer to obtaining my goals.”
Julie LaPlante added, “I am looking forward to completing
the program and having my own classroom to use everything
that I have learned in the program.”
Upon completion of the candidacy period of the CLASS program,
the students work as teaching interns for a full year under
the guidance of mentors. Students then graduate with a Bachelors
Degree in a content area, an Education Minor, an elementary
education certificate, and 36 graduate credits.
