As school districts across the country struggle to fill teacher vacancies during a national teacher shortage, Westminster Public Schools has found great success by hiring its student teachers once they earn their teaching license. 

Eleven of the district's first-year teachers for the 2022-23 school year taught in WPS while earning their degrees in education. The new teachers attended Regis University, Metropolitan State University, and the University of Northern Colorado. 

Student teaching in WPS is especially valuable because the new instructors understand the district’s Competency Based System (CBS) before being hired. What’s Up WPS spent time with Carly Compesi, a teacher at Tennyson Knolls Preparatory Academy to learn more.