TPS student-teacher internship gives high schoolers a head start in the classroom

While many high school seniors were finishing finals and preparing for graduation, one Tulsa Public Schools student was already standing at the front of the class, as a teacher.

Tulsa Public Schools has launched a new student-teaching internship program designed to give high school juniors and seniors hands-on experience in elementary school classrooms.

The initiative is part of the district’s broader effort to help students explore potential career paths before they graduate.

Real-world experience in education

The program allows students to shadow certified teachers in local elementary schools. Interns assist with classroom management, lesson planning, and student engagement, all while gaining valuable professional skills in a supportive environment.

Krystal Hutchinson, director of postsecondary readiness for TPS, said the initiative helps students make informed decisions about their future careers.

“Giving students a chance to test it out while they're still in high school, still supported with the high school structure is really important,” Hutchinson said. “It helps them save time, possibly in college, when they figure out ‘Yep, this is what I want to do.’ Sometimes they figure out maybe this isn't what I want to do, and that's a valuable experience as well.”

A first-of-its-kind experience for one student

Victoria Timmons, a recent TPS graduate, was the first student to participate in the internship. She spent her final semester at Key Elementary, where she was known to students as “Ms. Timmons.”

Timmons said the experience strengthened her desire to become a teacher and taught her key lessons about what it means to lead a classroom.

“What it's taught me about teaching is just that patience is a huge thing,” she said. “Whenever something may not go as was planned, you just have to take it and just run with it. And then about me, I would say it's just taught me about what I want to be as a future teacher and how I want to teach and act towards my students.”

Balancing school and the classroom

Timmons said careful planning allowed her to take part in the internship during her last semester of high school. With only having to focus on AP English 4 her last semester, she was able to devote the rest of her time to teaching.

She said the experience confirmed that education is the right path for her.

What’s next for the internship program

TPS officials say the student-teaching internship is now open to both juniors and seniors across the district. Students interested in participating should speak with their school counselor for more information.