Male student helps in elementary classes.
Education Department

Community Opportunities: Classroom Experience That Prepares You to Lead

Transformative teaching: hands-on community experiences.

Bring your passion for teaching to life through hands-on, real-world classroom experiences. In Western’s Education program, you’ll plan and deliver lessons in local schools, engage with students during your year-long residency, and collaborate with mentors to refine your teaching practice. These immersive opportunities help you build confidence, develop your voice as an educator, and make a meaningful impact from day one.

Student teacher Alyeska Riker helping students at the Gunnison Lake School

Teach and Lead Through Real-World Classroom Experiences

As part of Western’s Elementary Education program, students go beyond textbooks and into real classrooms, gaining hands-on experience through a year-long residency in K–12 schools across Colorado. You’ll design and deliver lesson plans, engage with students, and receive expert feedback using tools like Edthena to strengthen your teaching practice. From local service projects to district-specific case studies, every experience is designed to help you grow as both an educator and a leader. Whether you’re inspiring young learners or shaping your own teaching philosophy, Western gives you the training, support, and confidence to make a lasting impact.

Student teacher Taylor Martin helping a student with class work

Gain Hands-On Teaching Experience

Through the year-long clinical residency, you’ll teach in K–12 schools across Colorado, applying what you learn in real classrooms. This immersive experience allows you to develop classroom management skills, test instructional strategies, and build relationships with students and mentors. Many students receive full-time job offers from the schools where they complete their residency.

student teacher at Gunnison Elementary School helps the children with tasks

Develop Effective Lesson Plans

You’ll create 30- to 40-minute lesson plans tailored to local classrooms and refine your teaching techniques using Edthena software. By reviewing recorded lessons and receiving personalized feedback from instructors, you’ll strengthen your instructional approach. These experiences help you adjust your teaching to meet student needs and align with district expectations.

A group of fifth graders work together to decide where to build their next power plant.

Build Research and Advocacy Skills

The Historical and Current Case Study Project gives you insight into a school district where you hope to work, preparing you to navigate educational challenges and advocate for student success. You’ll research district policies, community demographics, and school culture to understand how to serve students effectively. This project helps future teachers enter the job market with purpose and preparation.

Dr. Jessica Laramie helps a group of fifth grader add up the environmental costs of the pretend power plants they built in the game.

Engage with the Community

The Earth Week Service Project connects you with local environmental initiatives, reinforcing the role of science education in driving positive change. You’ll work alongside schools and community partners to lead hands-on activities that promote sustainability. These experiences deepen your connection to the community and model civic engagement for your students.

Student teacher, Alyeska Riker, reading a book to a classroom of kindergarteners.

Prepare for Your Career

These hands-on experiences, combined with mentorship from faculty and local educators, ensure you graduate with the confidence, skills, and network needed to launch your teaching career. From your first lesson plan to your final day in residency, you’ll be supported every step of the way. Graduates leave Western ready to lead, teach, and make a lasting impact.

Real-World Roles

Hands-on experience is at the heart of Western’s Education program. Our students don’t just learn about teaching—they step into real classrooms, schools, and communities to practice it.

Here are just a few of the real-world experiences our students have taken part in:

  • Completing year-long clinical residencies in districts across Colorado, including Gunnison, Delta, Montrose, and Pueblo

  • Designing and teaching lessons in local elementary classrooms as part of their coursework

  • Using Edthena to record and analyze classroom instruction for feedback and growth

  • Leading environmental education activities during the Earth Week Service Project

  • Conducting in-depth research on local school districts through the Historical and Current Case Study Project to prepare for future job placements

These experiences help students build confidence, develop classroom leadership, and often lead directly to job offers after graduation.

A male student teacher helps kids learn around a table.

Experience education at Western.

The best way to get to know Western—and our Education program—is to experience it firsthand. Schedule a campus visit, sit in on a class, and meet with a professor from the Education Department. You’ll see how our hands-on approach prepares future teachers and get a feel for the supportive, passionate community you’ll be part of.

Plan a Visit