Education: Middle Grades Career Success

Middle school education represents a great opportunity for today's education majors; you have a chance to positively influence students at a formative time in their lives. 

At Champlain, you'll build your work experience gradually from your first semester—primarily observing—to your senior year, which includes full-time teaching. It is this comprehensive background that makes your first year of career teaching feel perfectly natural. 

Just six months after graduation, all of our Middle School Teacher Education students from the Class of 2019 had accepted educational positions relevant to their career goals.

Recent Middle School Teacher Education graduates have accepted various positions, including:

  • Milton Middle School // Middle-Level Interdisciplinary Literacy Teacher // Milton, VT

  • South Burlington High School // Autism/Behavior Interventionist // South Burlington, VT

  • Sara Holbrook Community Center // Middle School Assistant // Burlington, VT

Champlain Education: Middle Grades Graduates Are Ready

In addition to the extensive career-focused programs and support offered College-wide, Champlain's majors feature learning opportunities and other programs that help our students create highly marketable résumés. Highlights of the Middle Grades focus include:

  • All members of the Education: Middle Grades faculty are professionals in their field, which is an essential factor in our students getting the most relevant education in the field possible.
  • As you learn concepts and teaching techniques in the college classroom, you immediately get to apply them in local middle school classrooms. With Champlain's small class sizes, you can discuss ideas in-depth with your peers and instructors—promptly reflecting on your fieldwork or preparing for it.
  • Middle School Teacher Education students get to observe and work in classrooms at local schools starting in their first semester. You'll ease your way into full-time teaching, simultaneously building your résumé and your confidence.
  • You will learn to use state-of-the-art technology in the classroom and create an electronic portfolio to showcase your work as you interview for teaching positions.
  • Meeting requirements for Praxis I and II tests, earning a 3.0 GPA or higher, and successfully completing full-time student teaching will make you eligible for Vermont teaching licensure, which is recognized in 46 states.