The UT Graduate School of Education model is “side-by-side teaching” (co-teaching) where the intern and mentoring teacher co-plan and co-teach throughout the year. This provides PreK–12 students the benefit of two teachers, and allows our interns the continual coaching of their talented mentor. As the year progresses, the teacher candidate gradually takes on full responsibility for the class with the mentor providing backup, feedback, and support. All mentors are selected based on their classroom performance and effectiveness in student learning.