Even before graduating from college, it's possible to gain meaningful experience in the field of education, developing skill in core activities like planning lessons and running a classroom.

At Sewanee, the Office of Civic Engagement is a hub for projects that connect the university to the community. Over the years, the Bonner Leaders Program and Canale Internship Fund have supported a wide variety of service activities in local schools, with sustained focus on mentoring, tutoring, and the arts. The South Cumberland Plateau AmeriCorps offers students additional opportunities to volunteer in local schools for up to eight hours a week, making participants eligible for a stipend and education award, as well as reimbursement for program and travel expenses. During the school year and the summer, Sewanee students have been involved with local programs like Head Start and ZEAL.

Substitute teaching can also be a pathway for students to explore career possibilities and to gain experience leading a classroom. Substitute teachers are generally hired and paid on a per diem basis, so while it may be difficult to find full free days for substitute teaching during term time, many K-12 schools begin their school year before the start of the fall semester and continue well beyond final exams in the spring. College vacations also present opportunities for undertaking this work.

In Tennessee, individual school districts have considerable latitude to set their own standards for substitute teachers. In some, those who hold a high school diploma or a GED are eligible to serve, while others require at least 60 college credits (roughly equivalent to two years of full-time study). Since substitute teachers are generally required to undergo a pre-service background check, it is advisable to begin the application process well in advance of the intended starting date.

There are also a number of summer programs which regularly hire college students to teach a pre-college curriculum to middle and high-school students. Because of the structure of the school year, internships or similar gateways to professional experience are rare in the field of education. But with varying degrees of responsibility and independence, these opportunities can offer a chance to explore the vocation in a supervised, mentored environment, usually in collaboration with experienced instructors.