CT, US, and Teacher Candidate Responsibilities

Cooperating Teacher Responsibilities

Cooperating teachers are professional educators who are recommended by school administrators. These master teachers have a proven record of classroom expertise, experience, competence, and willingness to work with student interns. Cooperating teachers are also selected in part for conducting a quality program for their students through reflective teaching practices. Cooperating Teacher Selection for Interns: See Faculty Qualifications and P-12 Clinical Faculty (Cooperating Teachers) for Interns section (p. 12) in this document for cooperating teacher required credentials.

The cooperating teacher (CT) is responsible for the following:

  • Participating in the Co-Teaching Model of instruction with the JSU teacher candidate;
  • Informing the teacher candidate about the placement school’s policies and procedures;
  • Allowing the candidate to gradually assume full-time teaching (20 full teaching days; 5 of those days must be consecutive) by encouraging the candidate to assume varied and partial roles, proceeding from rudimentary contributions to full responsibility for the classroom for a designated period of time;
  • Communicating observed areas of needed improvement, as well as observed strengths, on a daily basis;
  • Communicating with the university supervisor (US) immediately when there is a concern regarding the candidate’s performance;
  • Allowing the US to visit the intern at all reasonable times for the purpose of observation and evaluation;
  • Maintaining the confidentiality of intern information in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA);
  • Working with the US and intern to define mutually agreed upon educational objectives;
  • Retaining supervisory control, at all times, over the class and the program of instruction;
  • Notifying the US when it is necessary for the CT to be absent more than five (5) days in case there is a need to reassign the candidate;
  • Completing candidate evaluations in accordance with the university schedule for summative and formative evaluations;
  • Conferencing with the teacher candidate and/or US in accordance with the university schedule for summative and formative evaluations.

Note: The assigned university supervisor will provide further information and instructions regarding the assessment of the teacher candidate using JSU’s observation rubrics and evaluation forms.

University Supervisor Responsibilities

JSU’s university supervisors serve as liaisons and mentors between the JSU College of Education and Professional Studies and our partner P-12 schools. Supervisors guide learning experiences and growth of the teacher candidate in addition to frequent observations and feedback. The university supervisor (US) is responsible for the following:

  • Supporting and/or participating in the Co-Teaching Model of instruction between the cooperating teacher (CT) and the teacher candidate;
  • Informing the teacher candidate about all policies and procedures regarding the internship expectations;
  • Informing the cooperating teacher and site administration of university requirements and procedures. This includes meeting with cooperating teachers at the beginning of the internship and reviewing teaching requirements and evaluation procedures.
  • Being accessible to the teacher candidate at all reasonable times;
  • Visiting the teacher candidate at the placement school for the purpose of observation and evaluation in accordance with the university’s number of required evaluations;
  • Communicating to the teacher candidate mutually agreed upon educational objectives;
  • Maintaining the confidentiality of teacher candidate information, as well as placement school student information, that must remain private in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA);
  • Conferencing with the teacher candidate and/or CT in accordance with the Internship Calendar for teacher candidate evaluations;
  • Completing teacher candidate evaluations in accordance to the Internship Calendar provided by the Assistant Director of Clinical Experiences;
  • Determining the teacher candidate’s Pass/Fail status after considering input from the CT, the candidate, the Department Head, the Assistant Director of Clinical Experiences, and evaluating the candidate’s performance throughout the defined educational experience;
  • Submitting a Pass/Fail sheet for all assigned teacher candidates to the Assistant Director of Clinical Experiences by designated date at end of internship;
  • Return and/or submit completed rubrics, mileage/travel forms monthly, and all applicable paperwork to the Office of Clinical Experiences by the dates specified; and
  • Be aware that the teacher candidate is not used as a substitute teacher.

Teacher Candidate Responsibilities

The teacher candidate is responsible for the following:

  • Participating in the Co-Teaching Model of instruction with the cooperating teacher (CT);
  • Communicating with the university supervisor (US) and CT on a routine basis;
  • Adhering to all placement school policies and procedures;
  • Adhering to all JSU policies and procedures regarding student conduct;
  • Completing all assignments and projects as assigned by the US, CT and/or the Teacher Education Program;
  • Being punctual and regular in attendance;
  • Transporting him/herself to and from the placement school;
  • Maintaining the confidentiality of student information that must remain private in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA);
  • Adhering to all policies within the JSU Teacher Internship Handbook; and
  • Any other reasonable assignment(s) or request(s) made by the CT, US, Department Head, or Assistant Director of Clinical Experiences.