BYU McKay School student teachers gain real-world experiences through BYU-Public School Partnership

BYUs student teaching partner program allows seniors in the McKay School of Education to get real-world experience in dozens of schools across Utah.

Grovecrest Elementary in Pleasant Grove, Utah is one of these schools. For over ten years, Grovecrest has partnered with BYU to host dozens of student teachers and prepare them for the rigors of maintaining their own classroom.

David Nichols, a BYU senior and recent graduate, is finishing his degree through student teaching at Grovecrest.

A lot of times when youre at BYU taking classes, youre learning all this theory you dont actually get to practice it, whereas this is that opportunity, Nichols said.

Mentor teachers are selected from the staff at the respective schools and asked to mentor a student teacher for the semester. Grovecrest principal, Mike Larson, stated that this opportunity provides teachers with a new perspective.

It is really renewing, I think, for teachers to work with student teachers because theyre getting a fresh set of eyes," Larson said. "It gives them a chance to sit back and see their class kind of from the back seat and see whats happening. It allows them to reflect on their own practice.

Mrs. Saetrum is one of those teachers. Having worked at Grovecrest since 2018, shes a veteran of the partnership program and often assigned to mentor students from BYU.

I always say yes to having students come and learn in my classroom because I learn so much, and my students definitely benefit from having an extra person to care for and love them, Saetrum said.

BYU-Public School Partnership has existed since 1984. The McKay School of Education student teaching handbook states that student teaching has long been the capstone experience of teacher education programs. This experience is viewed as a transition period, during which the pre-service teacher candidate moves from the role of 'student' to the role of 'teacher.'

The class in Saetrum's classroom on Tuesday, Sept. 30, was focused on self-awareness. As the excited third-graders filed in after indoor recess, Saetrum motioned for Nichols to begin their mindfulness minute. Nichols pulled out a ukulele and began singing a popular Disney song, I See the Light from Tangled.

The children sat, some singing, others listening quietly. Saetrum stood off to the side, ready to jump in and help, as Nichols took the lead. Quiet reading was followed by a game of four corners.

[Nichols] came in with some skills that he was taught from BYU that are different, you know, that we were able to apply, Saetrum said.

Kids ran from one corner of the room to the other as Nichols talked about favorites and demonstrated how many students like the same things.

Student teaching is great. Its a good time to practice and kind of get used to how things go in the classroom, how management works, how to get things ready for all the students and how to work with different students, Nichols said.

After shifting the focus from self-awareness to the Constitution of the United States, Nichols received feedback on his lesson.

Its just one of those ways of giving back, I had so many mentors myself, and as Ive gotten older my goal is to help the teachers coming forward, Saetrum said.

This partnership with BYU has remained strong through many schools in the Utah Valley area and has created a community of support, not only for students, but for teachers and administrators as well.

Were a better school because we have student teachers, Larson says.