College of Charleston Student-Teachers Positioned at Head of the Class

^{Above (l–r): Student-teachers Margaret Jacaruso and Khaleel Barker El-Amin (Photos by Catie Cleveland)}

In their final semester, students in the College of Charleston School of Education step into their most immersive experience yet: student teaching.

For seniors Khaleel Barker El-Amin and Margaret Jacaruso, the semester-long clinical practice internship marks the moment they transition from students filling the classroom to teachers leading it. 

Five days a week, El-Amin and Jacaruso work alongside mentor-teachers in Charleston County schools, eventually taking on full teaching responsibilities. El-Amin, a middle grades education major, teaches seventh-grade social studies at C.E. Williams South Middle School, while Jacaruso, an early childhood education major, works in a kindergarten classroom at Stiles Point Elementary. 

A Dream Come True

Jacaruso has dreamed of being a teacher since she was a little girl. Growing up in Connecticut, she turned her playroom into a makeshift classroom, lining up her stuffed animals for lessons after school.

“That was when Ms. J really started,” she says, adding that – now, years later – student teaching has been everything she hoped for. “It has been the best experience. It truly has been what I’ve waited my whole life to do.” 

Jacaruso credits her mentor-teacher, Melissa Doyle, for making her transition seamless. After first meeting Doyle during a field experience in fall 2024, Jacaruso entered student teaching already familiar with Doyle’s classroom style and expectations. 

A Fated Future

El-Amin’s path to teaching looked a little different.

Many of his family members worked in education, and, growing up in Columbia, South Carolina, El-Amin assumed he would choose a different career. That changed in high school when he had the opportunity to coach his younger brother’s basketball team, a teaching experience that made him realize, OK, I kind of want to do this.

When choosing where to pursue his degree, El-Amin says the College of Charleston stood out because of the support system he saw on campus. In particular, he says Kenyatta Grimmage, associate director for access initiatives and pre-college programs in the Office of Admissions and coordinator of the Male Minority Initiative, showed him that “there are people that look like us on this campus, who’ve gone through this school and set out to do great things.” And he found that community of like-minded students and mentors doing great things through the Call Me MISTER program, which aims to increase the pool of available teachers and effective role models.

Now in his student-teaching placement, El-Amin instructs nearly 90 middle schoolers each day. While the responsibility can be challenging, he credits his mentor-teacher, Lara Graybill, for helping him grow in the role.

“She’s been a guiding light,” El-Amin says. 

A Lifetime of Learning

Both students say the College’s education program helped prepare them for this moment.

Jacaruso praises the immersive classroom experiences that began her junior year, explaining, “They were a great way to dip our toes into the water and get acclimated before student teaching.” 

The College of Charleston School of Education works closely with local districts to make those experiences possible. Frances C. Welch, dean of the School of Education, says these partnerships ensure that future teachers gain meaningful classroom experience before graduating. 

“I’m very proud that we partner with school districts and schools to offer high-quality internships for our future teachers,” Welch says. “We take great care to select the best cooperating teachers and college supervisors so that our students are ready to assume the important role of leading their own classrooms.” 

Looking ahead, Jacaruso is excited to get a classroom of her own after graduating from the College this May. She recently accepted a position teaching first grade at Carolina Park Elementary, where she hopes to become a teacher “who is excited to see students when they come into school and wishes them well when they leave.” 

Like Jacaruso, El-Amin is looking forward to securing a full-time position in middle school after graduation. He hopes to return to Columbia, South Carolina. 

No matter where they end up, these future educators are sure to make a positive impact on students’ lives. 

Madeline Jacaruso is a senior communication major from Essex, Connecticut, with interests in writing, journalism and strategic communication. She is a Martin Scholar and a member of the Eta Sigma chapter of Delta Gamma sorority.