Interns Offer Insight into Their “Exeter Experience”

New students and faculty flooded Exeter’s campus in the fall, and among them were the select interns that came to experience being a teacher here at the Academy. These interns came from a variety of backgrounds, whether it was interning at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival or playing professional basketball in Dubai.

Many of the interns came to Exeter because of their interest in pursuing a teaching career, such as mathematics intern Laura Bradford.

A graduate of Bard College, Bradford came to Exeter after discovering the mathematics program at the Academy. “I looked for a short-term math teaching position so I could determine if teaching was a career I'd enjoy,” she said. “Other schools offered internships and full-time positions but I chose PEA mainly because the math curriculum looked fun.”

After settling in here, Bradford noted that her life had changed dramatically.

“I have a clearer picture of where I'm headed in life. I'm healthier because the dining hall sometimes puts the desserts away early.  I wake up about six hours earlier each day than I did back in college,” she said. 

Once this year of teaching at Exeter ends, Bradford hopes to obtain a Master of Arts in Teaching, then move on to another teaching position.

Emma Phillips, another intern in the mathematics department, graduated from Trinity College last spring. Phillips arrived at the Academy to see if teaching would become her full-time commitment.

“I have known for a while that I was interested in teaching, but I wanted to try an internship to confirm that I would like doing it as a full time job,” she said.

Phillips chose Exeter above other choices because the internships at the Academy especially emphasized mentorship and training.

After over two terms of teaching at the Academy, Phillips felt that the experience was very successful in experiencing being a teacher. “I've found that I love teaching math, especially in a format where I get to engage students in a discussion about what they're learning,” she said.

Though Phillips enjoyed working with her students inside the classroom, she also mentioned her enjoyment of the experiences within the dorm.

“The girls in my dorm are fantastic, and I think it makes a big difference in how the class runs when I know more about my students than just their math abilities,” she said.

Phillips has already signed on to become a full-time instructor at the Academy and plans to pursue further studies in a math graduate program.

Interns also came to the athletics department, such as physical education instructor Elizabeth Hurley.

Hurley studied Physical Education and Health at Springfield College, and came to Exeter in hopes of improving her performance as a teacher. “When I was offered the position at PEA, I was thrilled that I could work at such a prestigious school.  I knew that PEA would be a great place for me to start my career as a teacher.”

Hurley noted her sudden independence once she arrived at the Academy, and has learned a lot from living on her own.

“I pay my own bills, make my own appointments, etc.  I have learned a lot from this experience, mostly from my mistakes. Fortunately I have my parents are always just a phone call away to give me helpful advice,” she said.

Hurley hoped that coming to Exeter as an intern would assist her transition into the teaching profession. “Unlike many of the other teachers I graduated with, this internship/job is meant to help me improve my teaching and coaching as well as ease me into my teaching career,” she said.

Hurley, already taking a graduate program in Athletic Administration and Coaching, plans to teach physical education and coach, and become an athletic director in the future.

Also coming from a background of health education, health instructor Melody Yee came to the Academy in the fall after receiving an offer from the school as an intern.

Yee comes from Rice University, where she graduated from in 2013 after studying health education and health promotion. Similar to the other interns, Yee wanted to experience having a job in the real world while applying her previous knowledge before furthering her education in graduate school, and Exeter seemed to be a great place to do that.

“When I got the offer, I knew I had to take it. Not only was the position a perfect fit for my career goals and interests, but I knew being in education - especially a place as academically acclaimed as PEA - would teach me a lot and help me grow as a person,” she said.

While a student at Rice University, Yee was involved in many clubs and activities throughout the campus. She helped with tobacco smoking research, volunteered with Planned Parenthood, and also took part in the “Stand with Texas Women” campaign. “A lot of my experience was focused in health promotion. For instance, I was a peer health educator for over two years and I was in charge of all the mental health programming at Rice for one year,” she said.

Following her arrival at Exeter, Yee quickly found that teaching and being an intern at the Academy helped her develop as a person. “My perspective on the world has changed since I have seen so many places and met so many different people. I'm glad I had the opportunity to live in a place like Exeter which is so different from my hometown,” she said.

Through teaching health at the academy, Yee has gained deeper appreciation for her previous teachers and reflected on her own experiences as a student.

“Ultimately, I wish I had more time to connect more and get to know students better. I also hope that for my health classes, that my students got something out of it and will make healthier choices based on what we talked about it,” she said.

After her year at Exeter, Yee hopes to go back to Houston to get a Masters degree in Public Health. Besides simply teaching Health Education, she hopes to also spread some awareness about health issues and preventing disease.

Theater and Dance instructor Andrew Trent came to the Academy along with the rest of the interns, coming from Southern Oregon University. After studying theater, lighting and stage design, Trent interned at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Already planning to move to the northeast to find a job, Trent found that Exeter was a good fit for him.

“Exeter's internship program checked all the boxes. Theatre education really saved my life in high school, and it's a privilege to contribute to a program that offers so much to its students,” he said.

Now at the Academy, Trent designs and teaches stage lighting in the theater program. He also coaches students in the backstage operations of the theater and dance productions. As the school year closes, Trent reflected on his time here at the Academy.

“Exeter has given me a great opportunity to expand my portfolio and develop as a teacher. I've been able to design productions, create and teach a class, and introduce myself to a new and interesting part of the country,” he said.

After one year at Exeter, Trent plans to pursue theater in New York “until it straight-up kills me.”

Administrative Intern Salah Abdo arrived at Exeter this fall after spending time in Dubai as a professional basketball player. After receiving an offer from the Academy to serve as an intern, Abdo felt that going to Exeter was a clear choice. 

“PEA is a place where when their students graduate, they go on to impact the world. I wanted to be at a place  where I could be mentored by some of the best leaders in education, and PEA has fulfilled that for me this year,” he said.

After being mentored under Christine Knapp, International Student Coordinator, and Russell Weatherspoon, religion instructor, Abdo felt that the experience here allowed him to accomplish many things that he otherwise wouldn’t have been able to.

“Not only did I grow as a person and in my profession, but I developed wonderful, life lasting friendships with colleagues and students. Not many professionals can say they work in a healthy work environment, and I was thankful to have that,” he said.

Abdo attributes his recent job offer at St. Mark’s school to the mentors and experiences he has had here. “With the support and experience I gained this past year at PEA, it enabled me to receive an offer to be an Assistant Dean of Students next year at St. Mark's school in Southborough, MA. I am thrilled, yet humbled about my new adventure,” he said.

Even as Abdo departs for St. Mark’s later this year, he still promises to remember how being an intern at the Academy developed him.

“As I get ready to leave this year, I will be forever thankful for the opportunity this academy has afforded me,” he said.

As some interns depart from the Academy in the spring and others decide to stay as a full-time teacher, all found that being an intern at Exeter was a great experience for having the chance to put their college education to use.

“Having to teach, learn, and work in this environment has opened my eyes in ways I never could have imagined.  I loved working with students and meeting you all,” Yee said.