Colby-Sawyer College and the Upper Valley Educators Institute (UVEI) have joined a partnership that enables Colby-Sawyer students to earn both their bachelor's degree and a New Hampshire teaching license in elementary or secondary education in as few as four years.

During the Accelerated Pathway certification process, students will participate in a full-time, 14-week teaching experience with the mentorship of an experienced classroom teacher. This internship is designed to instill leadership, planning and organizational skills in the student teachers. It consists of working with a group of diverse students and families within a functional classroom setting along with a seminar component that will include professional development through discussion and reflection of theories and teaching methods.

“I’m excited about our partnership with Upper Valley Educators Institute,” says Associate Professor of Social Sciences and Education Darcy Mitchell. “The work they do is experiential and hands-on, in line with the very best of Colby-Sawyer College’s core beliefs. Between Colby-Sawyer’s strong teaching in the disciplines, coursework in the education minor, and our new partnership, we’ll prepare students to walk into classrooms with the confidence that they will be the best teachers they can be.”

The Upper Valley Educators Institute will accept Colby-Sawyer students who are currently in the education minor in addition to their planned programs of study within their majors.