Southern Utah University departments offering student teaching may implement restrictions on intern or emergency employment starting in the Fall 2026 semester. According to a notice on the university website, elementary and special education students will be required to complete student teaching in the classroom of a licensed mentor teacher and may not function as a teacher of record during that time.
The university noted that student teaching serves as a capstone clinical experience where preservice teachers gain practical experience under the mentorship of a licensed educator. In recent years, some students have attempted to fulfill requirements through alternative experiences such as internships or emergency hires. In these scenarios, the student acts as the teacher of record, which lacks the consistent support of a licensed mentor in the same classroom.
Faculty in the Department of Teacher Education observed that while some students thrive in these roles, many others struggle to transition from block programs to independent teaching. Consequently, starting in Fall 2026, elementary and special education licensure-seeking students will have two specific options. They may complete the required coursework as outlined in their programs within a mentored classroom, or they may change their major to a Bachelor of General Studies and pursue the Alternative Pathway to Professional Educator Licensure (APPEL).
The APPEL program is designed for individuals already employed as teachers in Utah school districts who require licensure. The university's P-12 Programs Office offers these courses. For secondary education students, the university states they should contact their department chair and Christine Bonnett to seek approval for employment as a teacher of record during student teaching.
The Department of Teacher Education views mentored learning experiences as the most effective step from block programs to professional licensure.
