NextGen Educators is a mutually beneficial program allows undergraduate college students to work in – and be paid by – participating school districts for up to 2.5 days per week. This program provides participating districts with immediate access to emerging talent.
While providing much-needed assistance to districts and the youngsters whom they serve, participating college students also acquire invaluable exposure to and experience in PreK-12 settings – exposure and experience that could influence them to pursue careers in education and enhance their readiness to become teachers, and which can be applied to the field experiences required of Southern students admitted to teacher preparation programs in the College of Education.
Now NextGen Works
- Partnering school districts opt-in to participate with the College of Education in this program.
- Interested students submit the appropriate form to participate in this program.
- The dean’s office of the College of Education exchanges information between participating school districts and participating students, and shares this information with the Connecticut State Department of Education which oversees this initiative.
- Participating school districts hire participating students to work up to 2.5 days per week, at the district’s rate of pay for substitute teachers.
- Participating school districts coordinate fingerprinting and background checks for those students whom they hire.
- Participating students may be permitted to use some of their experiences working in schools as participants in the NextGen program to satisfy some of the required field experience hours (at the discretion of course instructors).
- There are no course credits associated with participation in the NextGen program.
Interested Students
Bringing current, highly motivated college students seeking teaching degrees into Connecticut's classrooms.
- Paid position working in a local school district
- Minimum of 2.5 days a week
- Connection with a mentor teacher
- Possibility of using the experience for field/clinical hours within certain courses, with program approval
Interested Districts
Contact us to discuss opportunities to partner with the College of Education.
Dr. Christopher E. Trombly
TromblyC1@SouthernCT.edu
Dr. Marie Nabbout-Cheiban
ElNabboutM1@SouthernCT.edu
This program allows for professional connections to be made and to help future educators get a head start into teaching.