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(Music)
(Mize) Thank you for hosting a SFA
student teacher in your classroom.
As a cooperating teacher you will probably have
the most influence on our teacher candidate as
they enter their chosen career in education.
We at SFA appreciate this partnership.
We are looking forward to a great semester
with you as the cooperating teacher
and our SFA student teacher.
A few semesters ago, I received a phone call
from one of my teacher friends.
She said, "Lisa I'm so excited about having a
SFA student teacher, but what do I do with her?"
This video/CD is a result of that phone call.
(Blackmon) Hello, my name is Lerin Blackmon and
I'm the current student teaching coordinator for
Stephen F. Austin State University.
All student teachers were given a grade specific
handbook, like this, in which you can find substitution
policies and expectations of what your student
teacher should be doing.
Each student teacher will be assigned a field supervisor.
The field supervisor is responsible for contacting you
early in the semester about your student teacher.
They will formally evaluate the student teacher.
The field supervisor will bring you a brochure called,
'Tips for Mentor Teachers.'
This has additional information for you to help
make this a positive experience.
What experiences has the student teacher already had?
All-level and secondary-level have had thirty hours of field
experiences and a one-semester field experience course.
During the field experience course teacher candidates
observed and taught one to two lessons
in local partner schools.
Student teachers for EC6 and middle-level have had early
field experiences in the
SFA Early Childhood Lab and Charter School.
They have later field experiences in local school districts.
EC6 and middle-level teacher candidates have taught
10 to 12 lessons in small and large group settings.
The purpose of the student teaching semester is
to provide each teacher candidate with support and
a strong classroom mentor as he or she is immersed
the total school experience.
Texas Education Agency's Code of Ethics and Rules.
All teacher candidates have studied and
are responsible for knowing the Texas Administrative
Code which defines the educators' code of ethics.
All candidates are responsible for knowing the two parts
of the code, Purpose and Scope, 247.1 and code of ethics
and standard practices for Texas educators, 247.2.
To find additional information on these codes
you may go to the website listed on your screen.
How does grading work?
Student teachers are enrolled in
nine-hours of SFA coursework.
They will receive either a passing or failing
grade for their student teaching.
This grade is based upon evaluations you
as the mentor teacher will do on a daily basis,
as well as, more formal evaluations done
by their SFA field supervisor.
Examples of the evaluations forms can be found
in the back of each student teaching handbook.
What if you have concerns about your student teacher?
Each field supervisor will give you a business
card with their contact information.
Please contact the field supervisor and myself
as soon as the problem arises.
Issues and concerns that might arise might
mean that your student teacher is late, not professional
dressed, and using their cell phone inappropriately.
They might be unprepared.
You can find more information on what is expected
from your student teacher on a weekly basis in
the student teaching handbook, appendix A.
SFA has the following policy which is intended
for those types of situations, the professional
dispositions and program continuation policy.
If problems are to arise the university field supervisor
will explain to you the process to you in more detail.
Policies and procedures can be found in
the student teaching handbook.
Student teaching attendance policies.
Student teachers are responsible for following the
same calendar, observing the same holidays
and daily schedule as your school does.
Student teacher should inform you the mentor teacher,
the field supervisor and school office as early as possible
in case of illness or forced absence.
Prior notification is expected when at all possible.
If you, the mentor teacher, has an assignment that
extends beyond the normal school day, the student
teacher should following the same schedule.
So yes, they should come as early as you
and stay as late as you do.
If this is not happening please talk to the student
teacher about the expected daily routine.
If the behavior continues, please contact me and
the field supervisor, immediately.
Each absence requires proper documentation.
Absences beyond two days must be made up.
You and the field supervisor should help plan the
make-up schedule.
Simply showing up at the school each day is not evidence
that the student teacher is participating fully.
Participation requires that the student teachers
be present in the experience.
Student teachers should not be thinking about
other issues, checking messages,
or being distracted in side-conversations.
Student teaching is a full emersion experience,
collaborative learning process,
and complex social activity.
Student teachers are expected to participate fully
by listening, volunteering and sharing.
Student teaching is a full-time job, which we
have communicated to our student teachers.
We have asked that they do not work or take additional
course work during their student teaching.
We realize though, that some of them will need to work
during this time, but we ask that it does not interfere
with their student teaching.
Successful student teaching is the end goal.
Professional dress, student teachers should dress as if
they are going to a job interview everyday.
Clothes should be clean and professional.
Candidates should wear apparel that is modest.
Candidates should remove piercings
excluding earrings, while at sites.
Men should refer to district policies about
earrings and facial hair.
Tattoos should be covered, if possible, while on site.
Candidates should wear clothing that is appropriate
to their field and grade level.
Recommended attire, slacks or khakis,
knee-length dresses or skirts, collared shirts,
professional blouses, loafers or heels.
Inappropriate attire, jeans, unless district approves,
mini-skirts, t-shirts, revealing shirts, tank tops
with spaghetti straps, flip-flops or stilettos.
Some exceptions include candidates teaching in
physical education, coaches, dance or marching band,
may wear appropriate athletic clothing when needed.
Student teaching substitution policies.
Many of the first questions, I get as the student
teaching coordinator have to do with the student
teacher serving as a substitute teacher.
More information on substitution policy can be
found on page 18 in the EC6 handbook,
on page 17 in the MLG handbook
and page 14 in the secondary and all-level handbook.
The key ideas include: student teachers may serve
as substitute teachers only after successfully completing
six weeks of the semester.
The student teacher is considered to be serving as a
substitute when you, the mentor teacher, are absent
from school and no paid personnel is in the classroom
with the student teacher.
Since, student teachers are still novice teachers,
we would like a certified teacher in an adjacent room,
that agrees to assist the student teacher, if needed,
specifically with discipline issues.
Student teachers may substitute for a
maximum of five days: two days unpaid and
three days paid, as approved by the district.
If the district requires substitute teachers to attend
district training, the student teacher is not excused
from his or her student teaching assignment
to attend the training.
When the student teacher agrees to attend district
substitute teacher training,
her or she must make-up the missed day,
regardless of the number of absences at that time.
In the back of the student teaching handbooks,
you can find examples of the student teaching semester.
This is only an example.
You can modify this example to fit your classroom best.
If you feel your student teacher needs extra responsibilities,
feel free to give those responsibilities to them.
Our goal is for the student teacher to teach a minimum
one full week with total responsibility for the classroom.
We realize that there are end-of-course exams and
STARR testing and other assessments that
you are responsible for.
We want our student teachers to be able to aid
you in those assessments.
We appreciate everything that you are doing
for our student teachers.
If you need to speak to me for any reason, please feel free
to call me at 936-468-1587.
Again, thank you so much
for everything that you are doing.
(Mize) Thank you again for hosting a SFA student teacher.
If you have any questions or concerns,
please don't hesitate to contact the field supervisor,
the student teaching office
or you can refer to the handbook.
Thank you again and
we are looking forward to a wonderful semester!
(Music)