Introduction

Mentor Teachers

Thank you for agreeing to host a Candidate this semester. You play a vital role in Oklahoma State University’s Professional Education program and make a valuable contribution as a School Partner to the internship experience. OSU envisions the internship as a partnership between the University Faculty, Candidates, Students, Mentor Teachers and Principals. In this handbook, you will find guidelines that will assist you in developing and maintaining an atmosphere of communication, collaboration and trust among the members of this partnership.

For any questions concerning the policies listed in this handbook, please contact Dr. Kathy Thomas, Coordinator of Field Experiences and Clinical Practice, 405-744-1088, or kathy.thomas@okstate.edu.

University Supervisors

The Supervisor’s role is to facilitate communication between the Mentor Teacher, the Candidate, the University and the Partner School.  Supervisors also play a critical role in providing specific feedback to the Candidate regarding his or her strengths and areas for growth throughout this opportunity. ; in addition to a  minimum of three formal observations, supervisors   complete and submit electronically a midterm and final evaluation. The supervisor should provide the candidate with a printed copy of the completed evaluations and review each of them in detail with the candidate to promote growth and help the candidate improve.

Our Partnerships with OK Public Schools and International Schools

Data on all field experience and internship placements is maintained by the Professional Education Unit and Assessment Specialist.  Initial and Advanced certification programs work directly with the Coordinator of Field Experiences and Clinical Practice to best serve Candidates and our partnering school districts with research-based experiences.  

 OSU as a land-grant institution partners with Oklahoma public schools; likewise OSU and the College of Education & Human Sciences value and seek international collaboration since international experiences positively affect the individual and enhance the various professions that our Candidates enter after graduation.

Candidates will be placed in diverse school settings:  a variety of socio-economic settings, a variety of geographic settings , and experiences working with diverse groups of students. Previous internship /field experiences will be considered when determining the internship placement. See the Professional Education Diversity Statement for clarification: http://education.okstate.edu/peu/diversity.

• Core Values and Conceptual Framework

  The Mission of the Oklahoma State Professional Education program is to prepare professional educators who facilitate life-long learning and enrich the quality of life for people in public schools and other educational settings. The Professional Education program’s conceptual framework includes core values listed below and emphasizes content knowledge, diversity and service.

   

  Leadership - We prepare Candidates who are committed to the belief that professional educators providing quality education are the foundation of a prosperous and democratic society.

   

  Ethics and Professionalism – We prepare Candidates who demonstrate ethical and professional behavior in their interactions with students, families, colleagues, and communities, and practice social justice.

   

  Academics and Professional Roles – We provide opportunities to prepare knowledgeable Candidates who reflect upon the connections between academics and their professional roles as related to the following areas:
  

   

  • Content knowledge
  • Integration
  • Human growth and development including special populations
  • Learning environment
  • Technology
  • Teaching/professional practice and assessment
    

  Diversity - We prepare Candidates who believe everyone deserves the opportunity to learn and can learn; they possess knowledge, skills, and dispositions to serve as effective professionals who understand and meet the needs of a diverse society.

   

  Service Orientation and Community Outreach – We prepare Candidates who value and engage in service and meaningful involvement of the learners/clients, their families and communities.

   

  As a School Partner, your role is to collaborate with the Professional Education program to:

   

  • Provide leadership for our Candidates during their internships to improve the quality of education to enhance economic development in Oklahoma, the nation and the world.
  • Model a culturally diverse, intellectually stimulating and dynamic community and be a leader in innovative practices in your educational setting; and
  • Immerse our Candidates in the learning community and provide opportunities  for them to develop and demonstrate competence in the professional roles for which they are preparing and to assist the Professional Education program in;
  • Being recognized  as a leader in the professional education community;
  • Advancing  knowledge and practice through creative and critical research; and
  • Educating Candidates to be lifelong learners, and intellectually and ethically prepared to serve and lead in an increasingly complex, global society.
• Terms

  As used in this Handbook, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:

   

  Candidate: A candidate is any field observer or intern in a pre-professional experience at a partner school.

   

  Mentor Teacher: mentors are the teachers in the classrooms who work with candidates in allowing them to observe, plan, implement lessons, and participate in any/all activities that occur during the school day. Mentors must have a minimum of three years’ classroom experience prior to hosting a candidate.

   

  Partner School: any school that hosts candidates in either field experiences and/or internships.

   

  Principal: the principal of the school is the first contact who assists the Professional Education program in making assignments of candidates to mentors. The principal often orients the candidate to the school’s philosophy, policies, and regulations.

   

  University Supervisor: A former teacher or a university faculty/staff member with significant teaching experience in the same content area as the candidate. This person monitors the internship and acts as a liaison between the Professional Education program, the partner school, the mentor teacher, and the candidate. The supervisor visits the school and observes the candidate in the classroom.