Welcome to Student Teaching and the Professional Semester

The professional semester, like a three-legged stool, requires equal support of student teachers, master teachers, and university consultants. Together we can create a community of learners committed to professional development. Leaders are not afraid of change. They are reflective in their practice and help ensure academic and social success for each student they teach.

The education faculty anticipates with you a semester packed with demands, challenges, and rewards. Our collective goal is to enhance the lives of all the students we teach. As educators, we must employ educational practices that are inclusive, fair, and equitable. By sharing a common vision, we can provide the leadership needed for success. Together we will make a great team! Enjoy the rich journey of learning experienced in student teaching!

Sincerely,

Kathy Evans, Ph.D.

Director of Undergraduate Teacher Education

&

Ron Shultz, Ph.D.

Director of Clinical Partnerships

Student teaching is the most important professional course in any teacher education program. Some Eastern Mennonite University students have actually called it "the best course in college."  Student teaching offers the opportunity to take theories that have been developed through study—theories about learning, about behavior, about the self—and test them through practical classroom experience. There is absolutely no substitute for this kind of reality. Student teaching is truly a continuum for professional development.

The Student Teacher stands at the very heart of the student teaching program. Prospective teachers at EMU believe that individuals can learn to their full potential, and that effective teachers help students draw on the background of experience to construct their own learning. The following persons share responsibility in working with the student teacher during the assigned practicum.

The Director of Clinical Partnerships at EMU is responsible for assigning student teachers to the cooperating schools. The director may also visit the supervising teacher's classroom and is available for individual conferences concerning general matters related to the student teaching program.

The University Consultant carries direct responsibility for supervising the student teacher and is expected to serve as a resource person and consultant to the cooperating teacher. During the student teaching placement, the university consultant will observe the student teacher in his/her classroom five or more times if working with non-clinical faculty, or two to three times if working with clinical faculty and will also conduct conferences with the student teacher and the cooperating teacher.  Students enrolled in secondary education programs (6-12) and all-grade level programs (PreK-12) may be visited by two university consultants—one from the teacher education program and one from their specialty area.

The Cooperating Teacher is the classroom teacher in whose room the student teacher is assigned. The cooperating teacher assists the student teacher in better understanding the demands of the teaching profession and collaborates with the university consultant in assessing the student teacher's progress. A cooperating teacher that has completed MidValley Consortium Training is considered Clinical Faculty.