Teacher_Education_Handbook

 A recommendation for the number of days/weeks the student teaching experiences is to be extended and a new school site/cooperating teacher to be determined, if necessary;  A recommendation for action that will be taken if the extension does not result in successful completion of the student teaching experience; and  Documentation of extensive discussion of this option by the teacher candidate, the university supervisor and cooperating teacher. Requests for the extension of the student teaching experience will be heard by the Director of Field Experiences and the Teacher Education Council (TEC), if applicable. If the request is granted, an incomplete grade of "I", pending successful completion of the extended student teaching experience will be assigned by the Director of Field Experience. The grade of "I" will be replaced with an "S" after successful completion of the experience. Failure to successfully complete the extended experience generally will result in the award of a grade of "Unsatisfactory". Removal of a teacher candidate Teacher candidates may be removed from student teaching. In most cases, extensive documentation and attempts to remediate must have occurred prior to the recommendation for removal. However, if the cooperating school, administrator or cooperating teacher requests immediate removal of the teacher candidate, The Director of Field Experiences will terminate the placement. Attempts will be made by the Director of Field Experiences to find an alternate placement. Placements can never be guaranteed. Suspension of a teacher candidate Suspension is the removal from student teaching for the remainder of the semester with a right to reapply. A teacher candidate may be suspended from student teaching for serious violation(s) of student teaching policies and procedures or for severe performance deficiencies. The university supervisor, the cooperating teacher or a building or district administrator may initiate such a request through the Director of Field Experiences. Reasons for suspension may include, but are not limited to: arrest or charges by any governmental authority regarding moral behavior or controlled substances, failure to maintain confidentiality, unethical conduct, severe and/or incessant disparaging remarks toward the school or university, refusal to complete assigned tasks, unprofessional conduct, engaging in unauthorized disciplinary practices, excessive absences, incompetence and noncompliance with university or school district policies. Upon the receipt of such a request, the Director of Field Experiences will conduct a thorough investigation of the circumstances. The teacher candidate's presence at the site during the investigation is determined by the cooperation teacher and the school administrator in collaboration with the university supervisor and the Director of Field Experiences. In such cases the teacher candidate will be informed of the conditions of the removal at the time s/he is removed from the site. If suspension is deemed to be an appropriate course of action, the Director of Field Experiences recommends the suspension to the Teacher Education Council (TEC). If the Committee grants the suspension request, the teacher candidate's removal from student teaching is immediately