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RESPONSIBILITIES

The major purpose of the mentor teacher is to provide the prospective teacher with opportunities to develop competence in classroom teaching. Success in creating, making available, and benefiting from these opportunities is dependent upon the cooperative efforts of several individuals in either a direct or indirect way. Obviously, the work of the student teacher and the guidance and assistance of the mentor teacher and district liaison are the most important. There are five parties who play key roles in the successful completion of a clinical/student teaching experience. They are the School District, the University Supervisor, the District Liaison, the Mentor Teacher, and the Student Teacher. Each role is defined as follows:

The School District

The School District and University shall . . .

• comply with all policies, principles, and procedures contained in the Western Illinois University Student Teaching Handbook. A copy of this handbook has been received and reviewed by the School District.
• work together in selecting student teaching stations and Mentor Teachers, describing and interpreting the student teaching program, and providing and participating in inservice education programs for Mentor Teachers and other school personnel.
• have the right and professional obligation to terminate a Student Teacher’s assignment, for cause, at any time.

The School District shall . . .

• expedite the processing of student teaching applications and notify the University through the University Supervisor of its decision as early as possible.
• accept as a condition of this agreement the University’s policy with respect to a Student Teacher’s position in the event of a strike or work stoppage in the School District. This policy requires that the Student Teacher remain neutral and confer with his or her University Supervisor.
• provide each Student Teacher with the same liability protection provided to the regular teaching faculty of the School District.
• secure the approval of the University Supervisor before utilizing the student teacher in any unusual manner or in any emergency situation. Student Teachers may not serve as substitute teachers.
• provide the Student Teacher with suitable space and facilities to perform his or her assigned responsibilities.
• make available to the Student Teacher all appropriate student handbooks, teacher handbooks, curriculum guides, and school and school district policies.
• direct the Mentor Teacher, on or before the end of the student teaching assignment, to prepare a final evaluation of the Student Teacher’s performance, using the form provided by the University. This evaluation shall be subject to the provision of Public Law 93-380, the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
• provide substitute teachers, at no cost to the University, when the Mentor Teachers and Student Teachers are released for inservice training directly related to student teaching activities.

The University shall . . .

• initiate all requests for student teaching assignments so that the School District shall have sufficient time to process the requests and to select qualified Mentor Teachers. Sufficient background information will be included to enable the School District to decide whether or not it is willing to accept the Student Teacher.
• ensure that only those students properly prepared are permitted to apply for a student teaching assignment. The University assumes full responsibility for appropriately screening all Student Teacher candidates.
• assign a full-time University Supervisor of Student Teachers to supervise all Western Illinois University Student Teachers. University Supervisors will also consult with, and provide assistance to, the Mentor Teachers.
• provide when possible and appropriate, and at the request of the School District, inservice education programs for Mentor Teachers and other school personnel.

The District Liaison

The District Liaison and University shall . . .

• comply with all policies, principles, and procedures contained in the Western Illinois University Clinical Experience packet, including attachments. A copy of this packet has been received and reviewed by the District Liaison.
• work together in selecting student teaching sites and Mentor Teachers, describing and interpreting the student teaching program, and providing and participating in inservice education programs for Mentor Teachers and other school personnel.

The District Liaison shall . . .

• have a current and valid teaching certificate (i.e., a Type 75 administrative certificate) and have completed the Administrators Academy course in Observation of Teachers or Evaluation of Teachers.
• act as the direct link between the Mentor Teacher and the University Supervisor for all normal student teaching situations. Should unusual problems result, either in terms of professional preparation or professional ethical/moral situations, the University Supervisor shall be notified immediately for consultation and/or additional expertise.
• expedite the processing of student teaching applications and notify the University through the University Supervisor of the student placements as early as possible.
• accept as a condition of this agreement the University’s policy with respect to a Student Teacher’s position in the event of a strike or work stoppage in the School District. This policy requires that the student teacher remain neutral and confer with his or her University Supervisor.
• ensure each Student Teacher has the same liability protection provided to the regular teaching faculty of the School District.
• assure that the Student Teacher not be utilized in any unusual manner or in any emergency situation. In the event this should occur, it is the responsibility of the District Liaison to immediately notify the University Supervisor. Further, candidates will not be utilized to provide physical restraint or for crisis intervention as outlined in the “Western Illinois University Position on Physical Restraint and Crisis Intervention.”
• assure that the Student Teacher will not serve as a substitute teacher. The candidate will not accept any honorariums or salary for any activities (e.g., coaching, directing, supervising, or sponsoring) normally carried out by faculty in the school as part of their regular or extracurricular duties.
• ensure that the Student Teacher has suitable space and facilities to perform his or her assigned responsibilities.
• ensure that the Student Teacher has access to all appropriate student handbooks, teacher handbooks, curriculum guides, and school and school district policies.
• provide one classroom observation of the Student Teacher. Further, she or he will meet with the University Supervisor, Mentor Teacher, and Student Teacher if there
  are any significant concerns about the student’s orderly progress through the program. In any case, the University Supervisor, District Liaison, Mentor Teacher, and Student Teacher will meet to discuss the Student Teacher’s progress prior to the assignment of the final grade by the University Supervisor.
• direct the Mentor Teacher, on or before the end of the student teaching assignment, to prepare a final evaluation of the Student Teacher’s performance, using the form provided by the University. This evaluation shall be subject to the provision of Public Law 93-380, the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
• provide prompt responses to requests for information from the University and/ or the University Supervisor for all relevant information pertaining to student progress and all reporting requirements for administrative needs (e.g., mileage vouchers, honorarium requests, or attendance information).

The University shall . . .

• initiate all requests for student teaching assignments so that the School District shall have sufficient time to process the requests and to select qualified Mentor Teachers. Sufficient background information will be included to enable the School District to decide whether or not it is willing to accept the Student Teacher.
• ensure that only those students properly prepared are permitted to apply for a student teaching assignment. The University assumes full responsibility for appropriately screening all student teacher candidates.
• assign a University Supervisor of Student Teachers to provide general supervision for all University Student Teachers. The University Supervisor will also consult with, and provide assistance to, the District Liaison and Mentor Teachers.
• when possible and appropriate, and at the request of the School District, provide inservice education programs for Mentor Teachers and other school personnel.

The Mentor Teacher

The Mentor Teacher and University shall . . .

• comply with all policies, principles, and procedures contained in the Western Illinois University Clinical Experience packet, including attachments. A copy of this packet has been received and reviewed by the Mentor Teacher.
• have the right and professional obligation to recommend termination of a Student Teacher’s assignment for cause at any time.

The Mentor Teacher shall . . .

• put forth her or his full faith and effort as the primary supervisor to ensure that the Student Teacher receives an outstanding professional learning experience, consistent with the conceptual framework of the University TEP. Should unusual problems result, either in terms of professional preparation or professional ethical/ moral situations, the District Liaison shall be notified immediately for consultation and/or additional expertise.
• provide constant, constructive, daily feedback which will allow the Student Teacher to make orderly growth during the professional student teaching experience.
  
• attend a seminar on Evaluation presented by the University Supervisor and use that model to supervise the Student Teacher.
• accept as a condition of this agreement the University’s policy with respect to a Student Teacher’s position in the event of a strike or work stoppage in the School District. This policy requires that the Student Teacher remain neutral and confer with his or her University Supervisor.
• attend and complete any workshops provided by the University relating to improving the student teaching experience.
• not allow the Student Teacher to be utilized in any unusual manner or in any emergency situation. Further, candidates will not be utilized to provide physical restraint or for crisis intervention as outlined in the “Western Illinois University Position on Physical Restraint and Crisis Intervention.”
  
• not allow the Student Teacher to serve as a substitute teacher. The candidate will not accept any honorariums or salary for any activities (e.g., coaching, directing, supervising, or sponsoring) normally carried out by faculty in the school as part of their regular or extracurricular duties.
  
• provide the Student Teacher with suitable space and facilities to perform his or her assigned responsibilities.
  
• make available to the Student Teacher all appropriate textbooks, student handbooks, teacher handbooks, curriculum guides, and school and school district policies.
  
• provide the two required evaluations of the Student Teacher. Further, she or he will meet with the University Supervisor, District Liaison, and Student Teacher if there are any significant concerns about the Student Teacher’s orderly progress
  through the program. In any case, the University Supervisor, District Liaison, Mentor Teacher, and Student Teacher will meet to discuss the Student Teacher’s progress prior to the assignment of the final grade by the University Supervisor.
  
• prepare a final evaluation of the Student Teacher’s performance, using the form provided by the University. This evaluation shall be subject to the provision of Public Law 93-380, the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
  
• provide prompt responses to requests for information from the University and/ or the University Supervisor for all relevant information pertaining to student progress and all reporting requirements for administrative needs (e.g., mileage vouchers, honorarium requests, or attendance information).

The University shall . . .

• ensure that only those students properly prepared are permitted to apply for a student teaching assignment. The University assumes full responsibility for appropriately screening all Student Teachers.
  
• assign a full-time University Supervisor to provide general supervision for all University Student Teachers. The University Supervisor will also consult with andprovide assistance to the District Liaison and, if necessary, Mentor Teachers and Student Teachers. 

The Student Teacher

The Student Teacher and University shall . . .

• comply with all policies, principles, and procedures contained in the Western Illinois University Student Teaching packet, including attachments. A copy of this packet is available to the student teacher on the University website (http://www.wiu.edu/cpep).

The Student Teacher shall . . .

• put forth his or her full faith and effort to ensure that student teaching is an outstanding professional learning experience, consistent with the conceptual framework of the University TEP. The Student Teacher will perform in a highly ethical and professional manner at all times. Student Teachers will constantly model knowledge of dispositions as called for in each case, and they will use appropriate classroom management techniques as situations present themselves.
  
• read, understand, and enforce the rules and policies of the School District relating to teachers and students.
  
• accept constant, constructive, daily feedback which will allow the Student Teacher to make orderly growth during the professional student teaching experience.
  
• attend and complete any workshops provided by the University relating to improving the student teaching experience.
  
• accept as a condition of this agreement the University’s policy with respect to the Student Teacher’s position in the event of a strike or work stoppage in the School District. This policy requires that the Student Teacher remain neutral and confer with his or her University Supervisor.
  
• not be utilized in any unusual manner or in any emergency situation. Further, Student Teachers will not be utilized to provide physical restraint or for crisis intervention as outlined in the “Western Illinois University Position on Physical Restraint and Crisis Intervention.”
  
• not serve as a substitute teacher. The Student Teacher will not accept any honorariums or salary for any activities (e.g., coaching, directing, supervising, or sponsoring) normally carried out by faculty in the school as part of their regular or extracurricular duties.
  
• take appropriate care of the suitable space and facilities as provided by the School District to perform his or her assigned responsibilities.
  
• utilize all appropriate textbooks, student handbooks, teacher handbooks, curriculum guides, and school and school district policies and return them in good repair at the end of the student teaching experience.
  
• meet and discuss with the District Liaison and Mentor Teacher the Student Teacher’s progress prior to the assignment of the final grade by the University Supervisor. The District Liaison and Mentor Teacher will recommend a final grade assignment to the University Supervisor. The University Supervisor will then assign the final grade.
  
• provide prompt responses to requests for information from the University and/or the University Supervisor for all relevant information pertaining to administrative needs. 

The University shall . . .

• initiate all requests for student teaching assignments so that the School District shall have sufficient time to process the requests and to select qualified Mentor Teachers. Sufficient background information will be included to enable the School District to decide whether or not it is willing to accept the Student Teacher.
  
• ensure that only those students properly prepared are permitted to apply for a student teaching assignment. The University assumes full responsibility for appropriately screening all Student Teachers.
  
• assign a University Supervisor to provide general supervision for all Western Illinois University Student Teachers. University Supervisors will also consult with and provide assistance to the Mentor Teacher. University Supervisors will have the right and professional obligation to terminate a Student Teacher’s assignment for cause at any time. 

The University Supervisor shall . . .

• select and recruit cooperating school districts that have educational philosophies consistent with the Conceptual Framework as approved by the University Teacher Education Committee (UTEC).
  
• select appropriate Mentor Teachers, in consultation with the District Liaison, for Student Teacher clinical sites.
  
• train all District Liaisons, Mentor Teachers, and Student Teachers in the WIU Supervision Model as adopted by UTEC.
  
• develop and provide inservice activities to District Liaisons, Mentor Teachers, and Student Teachers, consistent with the WIU Supervision Model and UTEC’s Conceptual Framework, which ensure that Student Teachers are appropriately and consistently supervised in a supportive learning environment.
  
• identify Student Teachers who are not performing satisfactorily, provide initial intervention, and collaborate with the Student Teacher’s major department for remediation plans/training.
  
• act as an Ombudsman for Student Teacher concerns relating to assignments, expectations, and grading during the student teaching experience.
• act as a facilitator to provide services to the local School District as required for the successful completion of student teaching experiences and other services requested by the School District as are available.