Pictured are the recipients of the first Barbara J. Eretzian Fellowships at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College. From the left are Stacey Potvin, Tamara Watson, Superintendent Barbara Eretzian, Bridget Fitzgerald and Sean Moore.

Auburn superintendent gets USM/L-A honor

LEWISTON – The Collaborative Learning And School Success professional teacher education program at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College recently honored Superintendent Barbara Eretzian for her work in support of the teacher education program.

In recognition, USM/L-A renamed its CLASS scholarship program “The Barbara J. Eretzian Fellowship.” The fellowship provides financial support to teacher education students who are completing their residency internship in the program.

Each year three to four students will receive the award. Following the presentation to Eretzian, the first Barbara J. Eretzian Fellows were announced, with each recipient receiving an award of $3,500. The recipients were Bridget Fitzgerald of Auburn, Sean Moore of Lewiston, Stacey Potvin of Auburn and Tamara Watson of Brunswick.

CLASS is a rigorous, nontraditional program that prepares students for careers in the classroom. It consists of four and a half years of academic work and professional teacher preparation. Students are placed in local partner schools immediately and partnered with a mentor teacher, so that they may begin to understand the everyday experiences of teachers and students.

Upon completion of the CLASS program, students earn their bachelor’s degree in a liberal arts field, state certification to teach grades kindergarten through eight and more than 30 credits toward a graduate degree.

The CLASS Professional Development School program provides all of the education courses and experiences required to become a qualified, state-certified candidate for elementary and middle school teaching positions. The education courses, field experiences and seminars all occur on-site in local public schools, currently the Sherwood Heights Elementary School and Auburn Middle School.

For more information on the CLASS program, call 753-6618 or visit http://www.usm.maine.edu/lac/class.