Careers at LPS

Student Teaching at Lincoln Public Schools

About Lincoln Public Schools

Serving over 41,000 students in 70+ schools, LPS is Nebraska’s second-largest school district, known for its educational excellence and academic rigor. Located in Lincoln, a city of nearly 300,000 residents, LPS benefits from a friendly and diverse community, several entertainment venues, dining options, beautiful parks and higher education institutions.

Learn more about living in Lincoln through the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce!

Securing Your Student Teaching Placement

Typically, your college will have an application process outlining the requirements for student teaching. This process often includes submitting transcripts, completing background checks and meeting GPA and coursework prerequisites. In most cases, you can request the district where you want to student teach, as well as specify your preferred school and cooperating teacher. Make sure to check the deadlines and specific criteria set by your college. If you have any preferences or requirements for your student teaching placement, it’s a good idea to communicate them clearly to your college’s placement coordinator.

Questions?

Contact LPS Human Resources at hr@lps.org or 402-436-1620.

Benefits of Student Teaching at LPS

Nurturing Environment

LPS cooperating teachers are invaluable mentors for student teachers, offering coaching, guidance and collaboration. They support student teachers in developing essential skills and refining instructional practices. They will prepare you well for successful education careers within our district.

Student Teacher Career Launch

During your semester in the district, you’ll be invited to attend the Student Teacher Career Launch with fellow LPS student teachers. You’ll get firsthand district knowledge from current staff, info about what makes a successful interview, details regarding recruitment and selection of teachers, resume tips and more!

Priority Interview with LPS

You’ll get to interview early with the district! More than 75 percent of LPS student teachers who applied at LPS were hired in 2023-2024.

Local Substitute Teaching

Although student teachers are not compensated by the district, you have the opportunity to earn additional income by substitute teaching at LPS schools during your assignment.

Smooth First-Year Transition

Your student teaching experience provides a hands-on introduction to teaching at LPS, helping you build a supportive network for guidance and belonging. You’ll also familiarize yourself with the district’s terminology and practices, ensuring a seamless transition into your first year of teaching.

Career Growth at LPS

Given the district’s size, once you secure your position at LPS, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to transition between grade levels. You’ll also be able to pursue further education to explore diverse roles within the district.

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I love having student teachers in my classroom. I love the team teaching aspect of having two adults planning and working together. I love that students are able to experience two teachers in the same classroom, and the extra attention it affords them. I love the second set of eyes a student teacher brings to my classroom and my lessons. I learn as much from my student teacher as they're learning from me.

Bruce Chapman

English and theater teacher at Lincoln Northeast HIgh School

I have really enjoyed having practicum teachers and student teachers in my room. Selfishly, I know I learn more from the students I get to work with than they learn from me. I have been very lucky to work with some amazing student teachers who have all gotten jobs they wanted in LPS. Watching them grow in confidence from day one through the last day is great. I love watching them start to really understand and believe they can do this job and do it well. Getting to work with a partner daily is a huge asset to our students and to the other teachers on our team.

Jerry Dittenber

Fourth grade teacher at Roper Elementary School

I love mentoring the future teachers of our children. I want them to understand the seriousness of the career, and the great joy they can give and receive in this profession. So much of being a good teacher boils down to relationships. This is also important to me as I mentor a student teacher. I can impart a lot to them, and they can impart a lot to me. We become a team striving to do what it takes to make our students want to be in school and preparing them to launch into their first year of formal education. I want to be a cooperating teacher that hands the baton off to those that desire to become some of the best.

Kathy Simpson

Kindergarten teacher at Belmont Elementary School

6 Pieces of Wisdom for Navigating Student Teaching: From Student Teacher to LPS Educator

Cassidy Newth, fourth grade teacher at Campbell Elementary School

Connect early with your cooperating teacher

Whether you know your cooperating teacher or not before you begin student teaching, ask if you can visit the school and chat about how you are feeling about student teaching and what you are hoping to learn from your cooperating teacher ahead of your start date. They love to see that you are putting in effort and want what is best for your shared students!

Get your substitute teaching license!

There may be days where you can help your cooperating teacher and earn yourself extra money doing what you do every day!

Be proactive

Ask how you can help in the classroom instead of being told what to do. The more you learn how to do things on your own,the easier it is to transition into your own classroom.

Have a friend...

who is going through the same experience as you. My student teaching was amazing because I had two close friends who were student teaching in the same building as me, and we could give each other advice about what was going well or where we could improve.

Network in your building

It might be intimidating, but ask the principal or assistant principal or another experienced teacher to observe you and ask ways you can improve. This opened doors for me to have amazing advice and eventually references to land a job!

Remember each day is a fresh start and opportunity to learn...

when you’re feeling overwhelmed. If what you are doing is not something that is successful, change it! That shows that you are aware and also willing to learn every opportunity you get

Step inside the classroom with LPS and discover the profound impact they have on their students’ lives. Each story offers a glimpse into their world.

Watch our educators' stories

Quick Tip!

Plan Your Housing – If you’re not currently living near Lincoln, ensure your lease or housing contract aligns with the start of your student teaching!

Universities/Colleges with Affiliation Agreements with LPS

An affiliation agreement is a contract outlining the responsibilities of the college/university, the student and LPS. Designed by our legal team, this agreement must be signed before we can host a college student, even for observation.

  • Arizona College of Nursing (AZ)
  • Augustana University (SD)
  • Bellevue University (NE)
  • Bryan College of Health Sciences (NE)
  • Buena Vista University (IA)
  • Cedarville University (OH)
  • Chadron State College (NE)
  • College of Saint Mary (NE)
  • Concordia University (NE)
  • Creighton University (NE)
  • Doane University (NE)
  • Emmaus Bible College (IA)
  • Emporia State University (KS)
  • Fontbonne University (MO)
  • Fort Hays State University (KS)
  • Hastings College (NE)
  • Kansas State University (KS)
  • Liberty University (VA)
  • Lincoln Medical Education Partnership (NE)
  • Lincoln Physical Therapy Associates (NE)
  • Maharishi University (IA)
  • Martin Luther College (MN)
  • Midland University (NE)
  • Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing (NE)
  • Nebraska Wesleyan University (NE)
  • Nebraska Wesleyan University: Dept of Social Work (NE)
  • Northwestern College (IA)
  • Nova Southeastern University (FL)
  • Ottawa University (KS)
  • Peru State College (NE)
  • Salus University (PA)
  • South Dakota State University (SD)
  • Southeast Community College (NE)
  • Southeastern Oklahoma State University (OK)
  • Southwestern College (KS)
  • Trinity Christian College (IL)
  • Truman State University (MO)
  • Union Adventist University (NE)
  • University of Iowa (IA)
  • University of Montana Western (MT)
  • University of Nebraska – Lincoln (NE)
  • University of Nebraska – Kearney (NE)
  • University of Nebraska – Omaha (NE)
  • University of Nebraska – Omaha: Grace Abbott School of Social Work (NE)
  • University of Nebraska Medical Center (NE)
  • University of North Dakota (ND)
  • University of Northern Colorado (CO)
  • University of Sioux Falls (SD)
  • University of South Dakota (SD)
  • Wayne State College (NE)
  • William Penn University (IA)
  • York College (NE)

If your university or college does not have an affiliation agreement with us for student teaching, we encourage you to request that they establish one.

Questions?

Contact LPS Human Resources at hr@lps.org or 402-436-1620.

Photos: student teachers and LPS cooperating teachers