Jamis Fite ’20 saw a reflection of himself as he went about his day in July. 

“I remember walking through the quad and laughing with my friends in the dining hall as some of the best memories of my life,” James said. “Now, watching kids have these same experiences and facilitating their learning and their fun is extremely fulfilling.” 

Jamis is a senior teaching intern in the Loomis Chaffee Summer Enrichment Program, which this year has 96 students who are rising seventh- through 10th-graders. The four-week program combines academics with social experiences and offers an opportunity for students to try out a boarding school environment while preparing for the school year ahead. It also allows interns to see if teaching might be a good fit. 

Senior interns were interns in the program last year. This summer there are four senior interns and six interns. 

“The enrichment program is not only a place for students to explore and develop new skills, but also a time where college students interested in private school teaching careers can experience all aspects of boarding school as an intern,” said Caitlyn Welch, director of summer programs. “Interns not only work closely with an experienced teacher in the classroom, they also serve as advisors to students, coach afternoon athletics, and are active in dorm life and student life activities. Through a robust mentoring program, they gain valuable tools that they can apply in future classroom settings.”  

Jamis graduated from Loyola University Chicago in December with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In August he will start as a Penn Fellow at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire. Penn Fellows, part of a  program administered by the University of Pennsylvania, earn a master’s degree in education while completing a two-year independent school teaching residency. 

Jamis credits Olivia Gell, senior placement manager at Educator's Ally, with helping him find, apply for, and choose the job. Educator’s Ally is a placement agency that works to connect educators and independent schools.  

“I worked closely with Olivia to curate my application materials,” Jamis said. “We went back and forth throughout my job search process, and she was always there to give advice.” 

Ms. Gell recently came to campus to talk to the interns. Educator’s Ally visits Loomis every summer to meet with the interns “to orient them to various career paths in independent schools and how to best prepare for their job search,” Ms. Gell said after her visit. “We have loved connecting with the interns and have had the pleasure of placing many former Loomis summer interns over the years.” 

During the visit Ms. Gell and the interns discussed various associate teaching and fellowship opportunities as well as best practices in putting together a resume that highlights their undergraduate work and their job experience at the Loomis Chaffee Summer Enrichment Program. They also talked about cover letters, personal statements, references and letters of recommendation, and the hiring season timeline. 

Laura Behr, a graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis, will head back to school for one more year.  

“After graduation, I am looking forward to going into the field of education,” she said. “The Loomis Chaffee Summer Program has been huge in helping me develop my skills and gain confidence in the classroom. I've also learned more about boarding schools in general and how to connect with the students while living on campus.”   

She is grateful for the opportunities to connect with other interns, staff members, and Ms. Gell. “My biggest takeaway from Olivia's visit was that there are so many opportunities in the world of education,” she said. 

Sehee Oh, a rising senior at Brown University, said the opportunity at Loomis this summer has confirmed that she wants to teach. 

“It has been rewarding to lead classes, work with students, and get a feel for life at a school like Loomis,” she said. “Olivia’s visit was also really helpful. Hearing more about the boarding-school teaching landscape gave me a clearer picture of what it might look like to pursue this path full-time. Her advice on resumes and interviews was incredibly practical, as it gave me a clearer sense of how to move forward in this field.”