Student teaching in TN...any suggestions? (Knoxville, Chattanooga: house, school district, university)

[teacher_2_b]

Hello! I am looking to relocate to TN for student teaching for the fall 2011 semester with the potential to stay in the same area for the entire year or even longer. Important factors I am looking at are: low cost of living/available housing, medium-size city, relative safety, and a community that places a high value on education but convenient location close to shopping, recreational activities, etc. Any recommendations for a city/specific school district would be greatly appreciated! I do not have any children so child care/pre-school information is not pertinent. I am looking forward to the advice!

[nashvols]

Depends on your definition of "medium sized city," but my first thought is Knoxville or Chattanooga.

[BirdieBelle]

To do student teaching, you need to be enrolled in an education program at a college. It's part of the degree program.
Do you mean substitute teaching, or are you trying to get information about colleges also?

[DonCorleone]

A number of suburb counties around Nashville would be good to look at. Hendersonville (Sumner County) and Mt. Juliet (Wilson County) are standalone cities but close enough to Nashville to benefit from all the "big city" goings-on. Murfreesboro (Rutherford County) would be a good option too. It is further from Nashville (about 45 minutes) and is more independant.

Otherwise, as nashvols said it depends on what you consider "medium sized". Cookeville, Clarksville, Jackson might also be worth looking at as well.

[WantingHigherGround]

Search for Tennesse on Wikipedia, you'll get some figures for all different areas, then pick a few cities, search that on Wikipedia and then go visit. Then try the forum again for more specifics - it'll probably help you out. Good luck :-)

[JoAnn5]

I first thought of Tullahoma, where i did MY student teaching long years ago, but it's a smaller rather than medium-sized city. Murfreesboro is very medium... but you will have huge competition there getting a student teaching position because of the university students there.

[hiknapster]

My first thought is Knoxville. However, I am quite sure Wmsn4Life is on to something. You can't just start student teaching, I'm pretty sure.

And, ahem, City-Data is the source for all of your city and town information. It's far better than Wikipedia. This forum is just a part of that. Click on the top left of the page and it will give you a staggering amount of information.

[WantingHigherGround]

Well to not be so "one sided" ... it's better to get information from all sources good and bad to make the best decision for yourself. Oh and you can also use google maps. Search an address from a realtor site of a house you are interested in, you can do 360' virtual walk arounds in the entire area, including to see your neighboors' homes, what the schools look like, how the entire area looks, almost like you are walking down the street. Wikipedia or any of the like, also has demographics, tax information, history, that can help give you more detailed, documented information on the area. City-Data is good for getting real-time views and thoughts on specific questions that you have, like you are asking. Check out Office of Teacher Licensing of the Tennessee Department of Education , you may find more information that pertains to your permit to teach if you care to look. Do your research on an area, ask questions, accept nonbiased answers, and trust your judgement! Best wishes!

[Beretta]

Here's a good place to start looking: //www.city-data.com/city/Tennessee.html

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by Beretta

Here's a good place to start looking: //www.city-data.com/city/Tennessee.html

Great place to get the facts! The more resources, the better.