Roles and Responsibilities of Cooperating Teachers

A. Introduction

Selection as a cooperating teacher is tacit endorsement of your competence as a teacher, commitment to students, and skill in human relations. Student teachers consistently rank the student teaching experience among the most valuable components of their teacher education programs. In large part this is a tribute to the dedication and quality of you, the supervising teacher.

This section is intended to review your responsibilities. Your student teacher and university supervisor/area coordinator have the following expectations of you:

B. Expectations

The student teacher expects:

The opportunity to learn by observing your teaching;
Assistance in learning to plan for instruction;
Provision of specific suggestions for improvement;
Recognition of demonstrated improvement and strengths;
A gradual induction into full teaching responsibilities;
Awareness that he or she is a beginning teacher and should be evaluated at the preprofessional level; and
A willingness to listen.

The university supervisor and/or area coordinator expects:

A positive attitude in working for the benefit of the student teacher;
A commitment to follow university and departmental guidelines in structuring the student teacher's experience;
Regular reporting of the student teacher's progress;
Early alert about any problems;
Mutual confidence and open communication regarding the student teacher's progress; and
Support in ensuring the student teacher's timely completion of responsibilities.

C. Responsibilities

Planning for the Arrival of the Student Teacher

The student teacher is accorded the same status as fully certified teachers. A legal description of the student teacher in Florida is given in Appendix B of the Student Teaching Handbook. The supervising teacher should assemble materials and equipment which might include:
- Instructional materials including textbooks, manuals, and curriculum guides;
- Desk or table for individual use;
- Name of student teacher on classroom door and chalkboard along with that of the teacher;
- Copy of the faculty handbook, pupil handbook, school policies, plan book, and other useful information;
- Sources of information on the background of the pupils to identify ability, program of study, achievement, socioeconomic status, and individual problems; and
- Parking permit or lunch pass if required.
The Cooperating Teacher Welcomes the Student Teacher

The initial days of student teaching are crucial for the student teacher. Each cooperating teacher should ensure that the student teacher feels welcome. Introductions to teachers and staff members, as well as other personnel employed in the school, are important. The student teacher should know about the building and grounds, matters of school routine, and appropriate working relationships with other members of the school staff.
The Cooperating Teacher Introduces the Student Teacher into the Classroom

A desk or table is always useful for the student teacher. The student teacher should be introduced to the students in a way that encourages them to respond to the student teacher as a classroom teacher.
The Cooperating Teacher Guidance

Many cooperating teachers who have worked with us in the past have found that the Cooperating Teacher Checklist (see below) has been especially useful in helping them know their responsibilities. This checklist is for your guidance and it should be recognized that all suggestions may not apply to all situations.
Major Program Components

The following descriptions of major program components are intended to guide you in meeting your responsibilities: (Student Teaching Handbook)
1. Major Phases of the Program (pp. 7-13).
2. A Review of Student Teaching Reports (pp. 19-20).
3. Legal Description of the Student Teacher (Appendix B).
4. Substituting and/or Absence of the Supervising Teacher (p. 19).
5. The Sequential Plan for Student Teaching (pp. 13-15) and its accompanying planning forms (Appendices F, G, and H).
6. The Student Teaching Evaluation Forms and Directions for Use (pp. 21-23, Appendices K and L, and pp. 65-69).
General Policies and Procedures

For all questions regarding general policies and procedures related to student teaching (pp. 16-18).

D. Professional Recognition of Cooperating Teachers

The Florida State University extends a Certificate of Participation (waiver-of-fee privileges) to Florida teachers who serve as cooperating teachers for its student teachers:

"School personnel who supervise interns from institutions within the State University System will be given one non-transferable certificate for each term during which an individual serves as a directing teacher. This certificate entitles the holder to registration at any state university within the State of Florida without payment of matriculation fee for up to six hours of credit in any one term, including courses offered through the Program for Continuing Education. The certificate must be signed by an appropriate academic officer of the university issuing the certificate. The certificates will be valid for not more than three years from their date of issue. In the event the number of credit hours for which the holders are registered requires that the holders be classified as full-time students, then the Student Building Fee, the Health Fee, and Student Activity Fee shall be paid by the holder of the certificates."

It is Florida State University policy that when it is considered necessary or desirable for a student teacher to work with more than one cooperating teacher, two teachers may be designated as cooperating teacher(s), and each may be issued a Certificate of Participation provided each supervisor works with the student teacher at least one-third of the time and that each has completed clinical educator training.

Upon submission of the Final Student Teacher Evaluation Form to the Office of Clinical Experiences, the office provides the name of the cooperating teacher to the Dean of Faculties. The Office of the Dean of Faculties issues the certificate of participation. The name and social security number of the recipient will appear on the Certificate of Participation.

The original Certificate of Participation must be surrendered, in lieu of the payment of tuition, at the time of registration. Possession of the Certificate of Participation does not guarantee admission to or registration at any institution. The holder will be required to pay all other current fees applicable at the time of registration and to comply with all applicable statutes and policies of the State of Florida and its agencies, regarding admission, registration, and matriculation. Certificates that are lost will not be replaced.

E. Checklist for Cooperating Teachers

Many cooperating teachers who have worked with us in the past have felt that a brief checklist is useful in reminding them of their responsibilities. The checklist is found on in the Student Teaching Handbook. We hope this checklist, covering the supervising teacher's role in the student teaching program, will prove helpful to both inexperienced and experienced supervising teachers.

We recommend that this checklist be reviewed by the supervising teacher prior to the arrival of the student teacher as well as periodically throughout the student teaching experience.


	Home Future student teachers Current student teachers Cooperating teachers University supervisors Graduates/alumni OCE Resources			Roles and Responsibilities of Cooperating Teachers A. Introduction Selection as a cooperating teacher is tacit endorsement of your competence as a teacher, commitment to students, and skill in human relations. Student teachers consistently rank the student teaching experience among the most valuable components of their teacher education programs. In large part this is a tribute to the dedication and quality of you, the supervising teacher. This section is intended to review your responsibilities. Your student teacher and university supervisor/area coordinator have the following expectations of you: B. Expectations The student teacher expects: The opportunity to learn by observing your teaching; Assistance in learning to plan for instruction; Provision of specific suggestions for improvement; Recognition of demonstrated improvement and strengths; A gradual induction into full teaching responsibilities; Awareness that he or she is a beginning teacher and should be evaluated at the preprofessional level; and A willingness to listen. The university supervisor and/or area coordinator expects: A positive attitude in working for the benefit of the student teacher; A commitment to follow university and departmental guidelines in structuring the student teacher's experience; Regular reporting of the student teacher's progress; Early alert about any problems; Mutual confidence and open communication regarding the student teacher's progress; and Support in ensuring the student teacher's timely completion of responsibilities. C. Responsibilities Planning for the Arrival of the Student Teacher The student teacher is accorded the same status as fully certified teachers. A legal description of the student teacher in Florida is given in Appendix B of the Student Teaching Handbook. The supervising teacher should assemble materials and equipment which might include: Instructional materials including textbooks, manuals, and curriculum guides; Desk or table for individual use; Name of student teacher on classroom door and chalkboard along with that of the teacher; Copy of the faculty handbook, pupil handbook, school policies, plan book, and other useful information; Sources of information on the background of the pupils to identify ability, program of study, achievement, socioeconomic status, and individual problems; and Parking permit or lunch pass if required. The Cooperating Teacher Welcomes the Student Teacher The initial days of student teaching are crucial for the student teacher. Each cooperating teacher should ensure that the student teacher feels welcome. Introductions to teachers and staff members, as well as other personnel employed in the school, are important. The student teacher should know about the building and grounds, matters of school routine, and appropriate working relationships with other members of the school staff. The Cooperating Teacher Introduces the Student Teacher into the Classroom A desk or table is always useful for the student teacher. The student teacher should be introduced to the students in a way that encourages them to respond to the student teacher as a classroom teacher. The Cooperating Teacher Guidance Many cooperating teachers who have worked with us in the past have found that the Cooperating Teacher Checklist (see below) has been especially useful in helping them know their responsibilities. This checklist is for your guidance and it should be recognized that all suggestions may not apply to all situations. Major Program Components The following descriptions of major program components are intended to guide you in meeting your responsibilities: (Student Teaching Handbook) Major Phases of the Program (pp. 7-13). A Review of Student Teaching Reports (pp. 19-20). Legal Description of the Student Teacher (Appendix B). Substituting and/or Absence of the Supervising Teacher (p. 19). The Sequential Plan for Student Teaching (pp. 13-15) and its accompanying planning forms (Appendices F, G, and H). The Student Teaching Evaluation Forms and Directions for Use (pp. 21-23, Appendices K and L, and pp. 65-69). General Policies and Procedures For all questions regarding general policies and procedures related to student teaching (pp. 16-18). D. Professional Recognition of Cooperating Teachers The Florida State University extends a Certificate of Participation (waiver-of-fee privileges) to Florida teachers who serve as cooperating teachers for its student teachers: "School personnel who supervise interns from institutions within the State University System will be given one non-transferable certificate for each term during which an individual serves as a directing teacher. This certificate entitles the holder to registration at any state university within the State of Florida without payment of matriculation fee for up to six hours of credit in any one term, including courses offered through the Program for Continuing Education. The certificate must be signed by an appropriate academic officer of the university issuing the certificate. The certificates will be valid for not more than three years from their date of issue. In the event the number of credit hours for which the holders are registered requires that the holders be classified as full-time students, then the Student Building Fee, the Health Fee, and Student Activity Fee shall be paid by the holder of the certificates." It is Florida State University policy that when it is considered necessary or desirable for a student teacher to work with more than one cooperating teacher, two teachers may be designated as cooperating teacher(s), and each may be issued a Certificate of Participation provided each supervisor works with the student teacher at least one-third of the time and that each has completed clinical educator training. Upon submission of the Final Student Teacher Evaluation Form to the Office of Clinical Experiences, the office provides the name of the cooperating teacher to the Dean of Faculties. The Office of the Dean of Faculties issues the certificate of participation. The name and social security number of the recipient will appear on the Certificate of Participation. The original Certificate of Participation must be surrendered, in lieu of the payment of tuition, at the time of registration. Possession of the Certificate of Participation does not guarantee admission to or registration at any institution. The holder will be required to pay all other current fees applicable at the time of registration and to comply with all applicable statutes and policies of the State of Florida and its agencies, regarding admission, registration, and matriculation. Certificates that are lost will not be replaced. E. Checklist for Cooperating Teachers Many cooperating teachers who have worked with us in the past have felt that a brief checklist is useful in reminding them of their responsibilities. The checklist is found on in the Student Teaching Handbook. We hope this checklist, covering the supervising teacher's role in the student teaching program, will prove helpful to both inexperienced and experienced supervising teachers. We recommend that this checklist be reviewed by the supervising teacher prior to the arrival of the student teacher as well as periodically throughout the student teaching experience.