Student Teaching

Gain Hands-On Experience in the Classroom

Students in our Education program often describe their senior-year Student Teaching assignment as the most meaningful experience of their UMF journey. During this time, they’re partnered with a mentor teacher—often a UMF alumnus—and have the opportunity to apply everything they’ve learned in their college courses to a real classroom setting.

Student Teaching is a fully immersive, 16-week program that places students in a public school or early childhood education setting. Under the guidance of both UMF faculty and an experienced mentor teacher, student teachers take on professional responsibilities, including planning and delivering lessons, managing classrooms, and supporting student learning.

Through this hands-on experience, our student teachers grow into the educational leaders of the 21st century—caring teachers, competent educators, and collaborative professional leaders.

See some UMF student-teachers describe why they chose Farmington.

Success in the Classroom

Seven graduates from the University of Maine at Farmington have been honored as Maine Teacher of the Year since 2006. Notably, in 2015, Jennifer Dorman, a UMF alumna, received this prestigious recognition.

UMF’s impact extends beyond the state-level award. In 2024, four of the sixteen educators named Maine County Teachers of the Year were UMF graduates, representing Androscoggin, Kennebec, Lincoln, and Waldo counties. Similarly, in 2020, six UMF alumni were honored as County Teachers of the Year.

UMF Education graduates have received the prestigious Milken Family Foundation Educator Award

These accolades underscore UMF’s longstanding commitment to excellence in teacher education and its significant role in shaping Maine’s educational landscape.

91%

Employment rate for recent UMF graduates from the Education program.

78%

Of graduates were hired within four months of graduation and nearly 87% secured employment within a year.

94.3%

Respondents indicated they were “Very Satisfied” with their teacher education preparation at UMF

“I did two practicums here at Educare and knew right away that preschool was the age group for me. My practicum exposed me to what they do here and I got to work with the kids and their families. It really set me up for success and made me want to teach here and work with young children, some of whom have special needs.”
Mattie Jernigan
Supervising Teacher, Educare of Central Maine

Contact Us

University of Maine at Farmington
111 South Street,
Farmington, Maine USA 04938
tel 207-778-7050
TYY (via Maine Relay Service) dial 711
umfadmit@maine.edu