Education Across the Pond
Interns in England Program Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Baylor School of Education’s “Interns in England” study-abroad program is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Launched in 1985, the program provides an opportunity for education seniors to spend four weeks in the London suburb of Kingston-Upon-Thames (three weeks teaching and one week of travel) during their student-teaching year.
Because Baylor seniors spend a full academic year in the classroom in a student-teaching role — well beyond the Texas requirements for certification — they have time to take a detour across the pond to immerse themselves in an international teaching experience. Students travel in November and December, giving them a chance to experience a one-of-a-kind Thanksgiving celebration in England and explore the festive Christmas markets.
“Baylor School of Education has had a relationship with these two schools — St. John’s Church of England School and Saint Andrew’s and Saint Mark’s Church of England Junior School — for 40 years,” said Dr. Tony Talbert, professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction and a director of the program for 15 years.
While senior undergraduates make up most of the Baylor Interns in England (BIIE) program's traveling cohort, graduate students have occasionally participated. In fall 2024, the SOE officially launched a graduate program, dubbed Baylor Emerging Education Scholars in England (BEESE), through which graduate students can conduct research in the program’s partner schools.
Dr. Kelly Johnston, associate professor, who is now serving as co-director of the program, has a unique perspective; she participated in the program as a Baylor student in 2004. That was also Talbert’s first trip. As he plans to “pass the torch” to Johnston, he’s thrilled to know she has a special appreciation for the program.
Students also enroll in a three-hour-credit Baylor course — International Internship in Comparative Education. Johnston said they learn about British history and education systems, but that the on-the-ground school experience is more broadly international.
“The schools are full of students from around the world — India, Africa, all the Eastern European nations — many languages are represented,” she said. “The language support curriculum our students experience here is primarily Spanish and English, so this is a far more multicultural and diverse setting for them to see language-based approaches.”
Another difference students see in English schools is an emphasis on social-emotional learning and student well-being, she said. “Our students were surprised and impressed by that, because it’s very noticeable throughout the schools,” she added.
Senior Bella Buncher, who went on the trip in 2024, said it was the “best part” of her Baylor career and, “I made memories I will never forget.” She enjoyed both the cultural immersion and the school experience. Baylor students taught two lessons in the British schools, and Buncher’s were on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, during which the students made their own balloons, and the Texas State Fair and its unique cuisine. “My ‘year three’ (U.S. second grade) students were both amazed and afraid of some of the foods,” she said.
Talbert said, “I think the number-one thing our students get out of it is that good teaching is good teaching. The idea of a student-centered, content-rich, lived-experience type of classroom works everywhere. So being a good teacher really does matter.”
