In the Knox County Schools, student teachers are those students enrolled in a higher education program that requires completion of a semester length teaching experience and teacher interns are higher education students who must complete two or more semester teaching experience.  

A student teaching or internship program in connection with a university or college must be approved by the administrative staff and the superintendent before a school may participate.  

Students participating in the program must have the recommendation of the college officials responsible for the student internship program.  

A member of the Knox County Schools administrative staff shall be designated by the Director of Schools to coordinate the student internship program at the system level.  

Student teachers and interns shall abide by rules and regulations as established by the state and Knox County Boards of Education, the Director of Schools and the principal of the school in which they serve. This includes but is not limited to such matters as attendance, attitude, dress, cooperativeness.  

Successful completion of the internship shall count as the probationary year of teaching and shall be credited as one full school year of experience. An intern’s service may be terminated upon the principal’s recommendation and the approval of the Director of Schools. 

Supervision of interns by mentor teachers shall be considered one of the teacher's regular duties and not as an additional duty. 

Interns shall submit to and pass a drug test and shall submit to and pass a fingerprint and criminal history records check conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) or other sources as needed.  Any costs incurred by the TBI in conducting such investigations of interns shall be paid by the individual.