RUMFORD — Teachers wear many hats for their students and schools – teacher, parent, confidante, counselor. All roles are critical to becoming a successful teacher and can be learned with first-hand experience. That is the purpose of the student teaching, a capstone requirement for UMF education majors.

During the spring semester, Mountain Valley High School has four student teachers to mentor. Caitlin Alexander teaches freshman social studies with the guidance of Jarrod Dumas and Dan Hodge. Megan Wallace works with Deb and Chris Carver on government and U.S. history. Amanda Martemucci is a student teacher in pre-AP English and creative writing and her mentor teacher is Meg Doughty. Finally, Brittany Dube teaches math with mentor teacher Melissa Forbes.

Student teachers face a variety of challenges from getting to know and understand students to classroom management. In addition to being in charge of teaching a roomful of high school students, they have to prepare student observations and lesson plans for a college course. Some have to work part-time.

Wallace said, “The biggest challenge for me is balancing work between MVHS, work for my college seminar and a job on campus as a resident assistant.” She graduated from Bonny Eagle High School in Standish, but grew up in Buxton.

A graduate of Brunswick High School, Alexander said, “It was a challenge for me to adjust to the school community at MVHS and get to know my students. I try to get to know them more every day, but I’m not used to a rural school with so many towns!”

“I’m typically a quiet person,” said Martemucci. “So I am working on my teacher voice.” The “teacher voice” that commands respect and “teacher hairy eyeball” that shuts down any misbehavior are two important tools for new teachers.

Biddeford High School graduate Dube said, “It’s a challenge to put everything I learned into practice. In college classes, we talk about classroom management and assessments. Now it’s up to me to make it work with students.”

With challenge comes success as well.

Hailing from Arundel and Thorton Academy in Saco, Martemucci grins from ear to ear as she talks about “seeing students excited about reading. They are enjoying ‘The Hunger Games,’ a book we’re reading in class. They actually ask if they can spend the class reading!”

Wallace also likes the personal relationships. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know students as individuals not just a bunch of kids.”

According to Principal Matt Gilbert, “We are lucky to provide this experience for our student teachers. In addition to helping them learn the practicality of their future profession, the students and staff benefit from the new ideas and enthusiasm they bring to the classroom.”

After completing student teaching, they will graduate in May and begin looking for teaching positions.