HOW DO P.A.I.N.T. internshipS WORK?

Arts Integration Menomonie (A.I.M.) partners with local schools and organizations as part of its P.A.I.N.T. (Program for Arts Integration for New Teachers) internship program. In P.A.I.N.T., university students work in paid internships to teach arts-based classes in the Menomonie community.

The PAINT program employs a tiered structure for internships, using a “step system” approach as interns progress toward independent teaching.

p.a.i.n.t. TIERS

“PRE-P.A.I.N.T.” INTERNSHIPs (tier one)

The first tier, called a pre-PAINT internship, promotes easy entry into internship teaching, inviting university students as early as their freshman year to participate. The pre-PAINT internship involves observing/assisting a classroom teacher in a 20-hour “pre” internship. Pre-PAINT internships are very flexible in that the university student can coordinate their hours in the classroom around their college schedule. There is no expectation for the pre-PAINT intern to plan or teach any lessons at this point, but rather, they are welcomed into the classroom as a guest “helper”, observing and assisting the classroom teacher with students however the intern feels comfortable. If, for whatever reason, the intern no longer wishes to participate, the internship is canceled with no penalty to the intern. They are paid for the number of hours they completed.

HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR A PRE-P.A.I.N.T. INTERNSHIP?

Interested university students in a pre-PAINT internship complete the brief application form on the AIM website, indicating how many pre-internships they desire for a given semester. Hired pre-PAINT interns then complete the necessary paperwork and attend a group orientation for the P.A.I.N.T. program. The PAINT Coordinator works with the local school district or regional alumni districts to pair the university student with a mentor teacher, after which the coordinator begins the initial communication between the intern and mentor teacher. The internship commences in an initial visit to the school site by the intern, which is coordinated via email between the intern and mentor teacher. At this initial meeting, the intern and mentor teacher make their introductions in person and soon after, they determine the interns’ schedule of observations. From this point on, the pre-PAINT intern works under the direction of the mentor teacher and with support of the P.A.I.N.T. Coordinator, until the observation hours are completed. Interns are paid bi-weekly at an hourly pay rate based upon internship tier. Upon completion of a 20-hour pre-P.A.I.N.T. internship, the intern will have earned approximately $200.

“official” P.A.I.N.T. INTERNSHIPs (tiers two and three)

For “official” PAINT internships (Tiers 2 or 3), the P.A.I.N.T. Coordinator works with partner organizations to host weekly art classes to be taught by pre-service teachers via paid internships, totaling approximately 40 hours over the course of a semester. The types of classes offered depend upon the organization’s attendees, as well as the skill sets, interests, and schedules of the college student(s) who will potentially teach the class(es). The coordinator determines the logistics (schedule, facilities, supplies, enrollment, etc.) for the class(es), and offers them as paid internships for university students in teacher education programs to apply via the AIM website. Hired interns then complete the necessary paperwork at a group orientation meeting for the P.A.I.N.T. program. The internship begins shortly after the orientation date, and in accordance with the planned schedule for class meetings. The intern works under the direction of the site mentor/supervisor; in collaboration with a partner intern (if applicable) and with support of the P.A.I.N.T. Coordinator and/or site supervisor to plan and teach the class. Interns are paid bi-weekly at an hourly pay rate based upon internship tier. Upon completion of each 40-hour P.A.I.N.T. internship, the intern will have earned approximately $500-600.