Minority college students enrolled in the teacher preparation program at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. The Minority Intern Program provides minority college students an opportunity to consider teaching as a career while serving as interns for 15-20 hours a week in a classroom in the Omaha Public Schools. The program was designed to expand the number of minority students entering teaching and to develop a teaching workforce for the Omaha Public Schools that reflects the racial diversity of the community.
Interns work with classroom teachers and others who provide specialized assistance to students.
During the internship, students learn about classroom management, human relations skills, pupil assessment, community awareness and human and cultural awareness. 14 Interns have moved away. Observational data indicates that the internship experience helps graduates develop effective teaching techniques and reflective practices for use during the first year of teaching. Program coordinators note that selection of classrooms and teachers for internship placements is important to the success of the program. Further, it takes time for principals and teachers to understand their role in the internship process.