Public School experiences begin with a broad-based approach during the freshman and sophomore years and become specialized during the junior and senior years. Administrative public school mentors are an integral part of our Teaching Fellows Program. These mentors also facilitate seminars and invite Fellows to the public schools to attend faculty meetings, PTA meetings, and to visit classrooms. During the freshman year, Fellows are required to tutor in the public schools. During the sophomore year, Fellows are invited and encouraged to tutor, to attend school board meetings advisory council meetings, faculty meetings, and a host of other “global” activities designed to give students an overview of public education. During the junior and senior years, a public school teacher in the Fellow’s licensure area becomes her mentor. The Fellow is required to spend a minimum of fifteen (15) hours in the mentor’s classroom and will remain with her mentor through the student teaching experience. All Teaching Fellows are required to complete a designated number of hours of public school experiences. If applicable, this can be done in conjunction with courses taken at Meredith.

Teaching Fellows: Junior Class Public School Mentors
In the junior year, Teaching Fellows work with one highly skilled classroom teacher in their expected area of certification. These professionals teach in the Wake County Public School System and serve as Mentors and Cooperating Teachers to our Fellows during their two—year placement, which includes the Student Teaching Internship. The Wake County Public School System is nationally recognized for promoting strong, healthy, safe schools. It is the highest performing large urban school system in North Carolina and one of the highest performing in the nation.