Students Complete Residency and Internship Program for St. John’s Educators

Students, faculty, cooperating teachers, family members, and friends honored 10 graduating seniors in The School of Education at St. John’s University. These ten seniors completed the Residency and Internship program for St. John’s Educators (RAISE) in May 2026, and participated in an End-of-Year Showcase held in the D’Angelo Center on the Queens, NY, campus. The special event brought family and school partners together to celebrate the achievements of the RAISE student teachers. Each student teacher displayed artifacts from their year in the program, received certificates and graduation cords, and heard words of encouragement from James D. Wolfinger, Ph.D., Dean, The School of Education, and Liz Chase, Ed.D., RAISE Program Director and Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

“RAISE reflects The School of Education’s commitment to preparing teachers who are not just classroom ready on day one, but career ready for the long term,” said Liz Chase, Ed.D. “The program emphasizes professional growth, reflective practice, and the sustained commitment that defines effective teaching.”

The RAISE program is unique for bridging coursework and classroom practice. RAISE student teachers complete year-long student teaching residency in long-standing partner schools, accumulating nearly 600 hours of field experience and exceeding the requirements of a traditional placement. Throughout the program, students develop their planning, instruction, and assessment skills alongside cooperating teachers, while receiving mentorship from both school-based and University faculty. Dr. Chase, who has headed the program since its inception in 2015, notes that the RAISE program embodies St. John’s University’s Catholic and Vincentian mission by preparing educators who lead with purpose, compassion, and a deep commitment to service. 

There is a meaningful impact from having faculty members work alongside partner schools, cooperating teachers, and student teachers in the field. Erika Prevost, a former program graduate — who is also a current PhD student and an adjunct professor within the Department of Curriculum and Instruction — noted that “research from the biggest names in teacher preparation indicates that teacher candidates are better prepared when their field placements bridge the gap between university and school based training.” 

Through immersive, community rooted residency experiences, RAISE cultivates teachers who are not only instructionally strong but also dedicated to advancing equity, dignity, and opportunity for every learner. In developing graduates who are classroom ready, mission driven, and inspired to uplift the communities they serve, RAISE stands as a powerful expression of St. John’s enduring promise: to educate for truth, to empower through knowledge, and to transform lives through service. 

For more information on Residency and Internship program for St. John’s Educators (RAISE), please contact Dr. Liz Chase at [email protected].