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Ouachita sends 35 student teachers into schools, prepares for new year-long residency

March 02, 2026 - James Taylor

Ouachita’s Huckabee School of Education is supporting 35 student teachers this spring as they complete their final semester of classroom preparation before graduation. Placed in 20 schools across the region, they work alongside experienced mentor teachers to develop their skills.

The experience includes comprehensive oversight from university supervisors who conduct conferences and observations with each student teacher.

“My mentor teacher has really helped me learn how to manage classroom behavior and be consistent,” said Addison Skelton, a senior education major from Broken Bow, Oklahoma. “Ouachita faculty also check in with me regularly, continuing our professional relationship in the schools and back at Ouachita.”

"I get to watch students apply these methods in real classrooms. It’s beautiful to see."

Tina Hobbs

Instructor of Education

During observations, supervisors evaluate components across four domains: planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction and professionalism.

“What I love is seeing students use the strategies that are modeled and utilized in our coursework,” said Tina Hobbs, instructor of education and student teaching coordinator. “I get to watch students apply these methods in real classrooms. It’s beautiful to see.”

Students apply for their student teaching placement and select their top three preferred school districts. The university then works with district administrators and cooperating teachers who meet specific qualifications, including years of experience and highly effective ratings.

“When student teachers get hands-on experience, they have to problem solve at the drop of a hat and actually implement what they’ve learned about classroom management,” said Molly Tucker, a first-grade teacher in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. “They come out much stronger because of the experience and reflection time with their mentoring teacher.”

Dr. Rachel Pool serves as dean of the Huckabee School of Education at Ouachita. She emphasized the university’s commitment to preparing teachers for a lasting impact.

“Yes, we’re going to teach you the best pedagogy and you’ll learn the best content knowledge, but we’re also going to invest in you spiritually,” she said. “And on the days that are hard, you’ve got something within you to help you rise up and say, I got this.”

Ouachita graduates maintain a 100% job placement rate for those seeking immediate employment in education. The university prepares students for work in Arkansas and across the nation, with graduates successfully obtaining teaching licenses in many other states.

Arkansas students pursuing teaching can now receive significant financial support through the Teacher Academy Scholarship, which provides up to $6,000 per semester to Arkansas residents committed to teaching in Arkansas public schools.

Ouachita students teach at Peake Elementary School in Arkadelphia. (Photos by Lily Roddy)

The School of Education has also seen significant growth in its Master of Education in curriculum & instruction, which more than doubled its enrollment this year. This created a historic moment: a Ouachita graduate student now mentoring a Ouachita undergraduate student teacher.

“I love being able to take the things I’m learning in class and bring them back to meetings with my team and conversations with my student teacher,” said Tucker, who is currently enrolled in Ouachita’s M.Ed. program. “Studying how our brains develop has led to great conversations and helped me understand myself better as a learner. The program is also an incredible opportunity to collaborate with teachers from across the state.”

Year-long residency model launches in Fall 2026

Beginning in Fall 2026, Ouachita’s undergrad training will transition to a year-long student teaching residency model, something Pool and her colleagues have developed over two years of planning. Students will spend Mondays and Fridays on campus for wellness programming, content courses and professional development seminars, while working in classrooms Tuesday through Thursday during the fall semester. In the spring semester, students will be in classrooms Tuesday through Friday while continuing coursework on Mondays.

“They'll get to see teaching from beginning to end,” Pool said. “They'll see how the rapport was built, how the classroom management was structured. What did you do on the first day of school? You're going to get to see that entire growth.”

For more information about Ouachita's teacher education programs, visit obu.edu/education.

Lead photo by Lily Roddy