NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY'S RESPONSIBILITIES

A primary purpose of Northern State University is to prepare teacher candidates to teach in elementary and secondary schools through a program of professional education.

Northern State University assumes the following responsibilities for the Student Teaching program:

 1.    To coordinate the teacher education program, which includes general and professional education courses and student teaching.

 2.    To recommend for teaching those individuals of desirable personality, mental ability, health, character, and serious professional aims.

 3.    To select and negotiate contracts with cooperating schools in which the student teaching experience is conducted.

 4.    To provide a director of field experiences and capable university supervisors of student teachers.

 5.    To provide leadership in research to all personnel in the teacher education program.

 6.    To work with the administrators of the cooperating schools in the selection of cooperating teachers who will accept student teachers.

Role of the Director of Field Experiences

The Director of Field Experiences assumes the following responsibilities:

 1.    To execute the policies and decisions of Northern State University and the School of Education.

 2.    To confirm the student's qualification for the student teaching assignment.  This includes grade point average, major and minor requirements, and professional education requirements.

 3.    To assume responsibility for the placement of student teachers in cooperation with the administration of the cooperating school, for reassignment, if circumstances require that this be done, and for authorizing absence from the student teaching assignment.

 4.    To provide general supervision for the student teaching program and keep communication channels open among participating institutions.

 5.    To serve as a consultant in student teaching seminars, to meet with university supervisors and cooperating teachers, and to collect teaching materials and schedules of classes.

 6.    To assemble all ratings and recommendations of the student teachers for Northern State University Placement Office and coordinate the final evaluation of the student teaching experience.

Role of the University Supervisor

If the resources of Northern State University and the cooperating school are to be utilized most effectively, it is imperative that the university supervisor assume the responsibility for coordinating the activities of both institutions.  A thorough understanding of this role and responsibilities include:

 1.    Becoming acquainted with the school program in the cooperating schools, with the cooperating teacher, and with the general characteristics of the schools.

 2.    Providing the necessary orientation to cooperating teachers and collecting classroom data.

 3.    Planning in conjunction with the cooperating teacher and the student teacher in preparation for the actual teaching experience.

 4.    Observing the student teacher periodically during the assignment and conferring with both the student teacher and the cooperating teacher concerning strengths, weaknesses, and continuing progress.

 5.    Providing written evaluations to describe each observation.  One copy is for the student teacher, one copy is for the cooperating teacher, and one copy is submitted to the education office to be logged and filed.

 6.    Providing guidance for the student teacher in his/her professional development.

 7.    Being available as a consultant for in-service training when requested.

 8.    Completing evaluation records and informing the student teacher of the record.

 9.    Consulting with the cooperating teacher concerning the final evaluation.

10.   Submitting all paperwork to the education office.

11.   Assisting in a continuing evaluation of the Teacher Education program and in the implementation of revisions in the program when they become necessary.

 

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