Resolution of Student Teaching Problems

Student / Semester / Incident / Resolution
A / Fall 08 / EC-4th Student Teacher walked out of classroom week before conclusion of student teaching frustrated with students. / Coordinator of Student Teachers met with University Supervisor initially followed by inclusive meeting with Cooperating Teacher, University Supervisor, Student Teacher, and Coordinator of Student Teachers. Discussion of situation and future consequences for possibility of repeated behavior as described in ethical standards in Student Teaching Handbook. Coordinator of Student Teachers approved Student Teacher to make up missed day after official conclusion of student teaching duration.
B / Fall 08 / EC-4th Student Teacher repeatedly failed to provide Cooperating Teacher and University Supervisor with developmentally appropriate lesson plans with varied learning strategies-- once they were provided, they lacked quality, scope and sequence; student addresses classroom misbehavior inappropriately and disrespectfully; some problems with revealing wardrobe. / Coordinator of Student Teachers met with University Supervisor and Principal initially, followed by inclusive meeting with Cooperating Teacher, University Supervisor, Student Teacher and Coordinator of Student Teachers. Student teacher was informed of ramifications from lack of lesson plans as described in ethical standards in Student Teaching Handbook. Student Teacher received one-on-one guidance from University Supervisor for appropriate lesson plan creation. Student teacher received guidance from Coordinator of Student Teachers on appropriate classroom management and dress. Student Teacher was asked to leave the host district and was reassigned by Coordinator of Student Teachers to neighboring district for a successful completion of student teaching.
C / Fall 08 / EC-4th Student Teacher arrived tardy to placements several times. / Coordinator of Student Teachers met with University Supervisor and Student Teacher initially followed by inclusive meeting with Cooperating Teacher, University Supervisor, Student Teacher and Coordinator of Student Teachers to discuss tardiness, leaving early and consequential negative evaluation from Cooperating Teacher. Coordinator of Student Teachers encouraged withdrawing and repeating student teaching in Spring 2009 to void negative evaluation in permanent career file. Student Teacher agreed and confided of blood disorder which affects rising in the morning. Student Teacher also later confided of early pregnancy as well and provided medical documentation for both. Student Teacher reenrolled in student teaching in Spring 2009.
D / Fall 08 / EC-4th Student Teacher continuously brought daughter during school in classroom after specific direction to refrain; Student Teacher left early continuously without appropriate preparation for following day. / Coordinator of Student Teachers met with University Supervisor and Student Teacher initially followed by inclusive meeting with Cooperating Teacher, University Supervisor, Student Teacher, Coordinator of Student Teachers and Principal. Cooperating Teacher evaluation proved negative; Coordinator of Student Teachers encouraged Student Teacher to withdraw and repeating student teaching in Spring 2009 to void negative evaluation in permanent career file. Student Teacher disregarded suggestion. Coordinator of Student Teachers required Student Teacher to make up hours missed from leaving early after official conclusion of student teaching duration. Student Teacher completed with negative evaluations.
E / Fall 08 / K-12 Student Teacher suffered emergency appendectomy early in student teaching physical education placement. / Coordinator of Student Teachers and University Supervisor analyzed Student Teacher’s options. Coordinator of Student Teachers required student to receive medical release to complete student teaching at request of Student Teacher. Coordinator of Student Teachers approved Student Teacher to make up missed days after official conclusion of student teaching duration. Student Teacher received outstanding evaluations.
F / Fall 08 / 8-12th ELA/Theater Student Teacher dissatisfied with territorial Theater Cooperating Teacher’s unwillingness to allow student to full teach. / Coordinator of Student Teachers met with University Supervisor. University Supervisor negotiated with Cooperating Teacher to allow Student Teacher to take temporary control of class as described in Mentor Teacher Handbook.
G / Fall 08 / EC-4th Student Teacher repeatedly failed to provide Cooperating Teacher and University Supervisor with developmentally appropriate lesson plans with varied learning strategies-- once they were provided, they lacked quality, scope and sequence; Student Teacher claimed Student Teacher did not know how to write lesson plans. Student Teacher was unable to apply appropriate content for classroom instruction and visited the school nurse daily for “feeling sick”. / Coordinator of Student Teachers met with University Supervisor initially followed by several inclusive meetings with Cooperating Teacher, Principal, University Supervisor and Student Teacher. Coordinator of Student Teachers negotiated with Principal for continuation of student teaching while Student Teacher received guidance from University Supervisor. Permission granted with stipulation that Student Teacher would receive regular guidance from Principal as well before school in mornings. Student Teacher was asked to leave the district shortly after with eminent negative evaluation approaching. Coordinator of Student Teachers encouraged Student Teacher to consider other careers after Student Teacher confided that she just wanted to make “lots of money with an office containing a window”. Coordinator of Student Teachers ensured Student Teacher the fair option to repeat student teaching in Spring 2009 to rethink career choices and avoid negative evaluation in permanent career file. Student Teacher withdrew, received full refund of financial aid as per permission from Associate Dean and received grade change as per permission of Associate Dean and Certification Officer. Student Teacher reenrolled in student teaching during Spring 2009.
H / Fall 08 / EC-4th Student Teacher received badgering from Cooperating Teacher. Mentoring techniques proved inappropriate. Student Teacher uncomfortable with relationship and Cooperating Teacher’s harsh discipline with students. / Coordinator of Student Teachers met with University Supervisor initially. University Supervisor’s documentation given to Cooperating Teacher’s Principal. Student Teacher completed placement with Cooperating Teacher. Another Student Teacher who was to report to this Cooperating Teacher for upcoming placement was reassigned to different Cooperating Teacher to avoid further problems with original Cooperating Teacher. Coordinator of Student Teachers removed Cooperating Teacher from Mentor List.
I / Fall 08 / EC-4th Student Teacher “stuck” in workroom by Cooperating Teacher because Cooperating Teacher, “…didn’t know what to do with a student teacher…..it was some time since the last one.” Cooperating Teacher disinterested with Student Teacher. / Coordinator of Student Teachers met with University Supervisor initially. Coordinator of Student Teachers reassigned Student Teacher to different campus and Cooperating Teacher.
J / Fall 08 / 8-12th Student Teacher failed to provide appropriate, quality lesson plans to University Supervisor and Cooperating Teacher in addition to other assignments which University Supervisor requested. Student Teacher repeatedly missed days. / Coordinator of Student Teachers met with University Supervisor initially followed by inclusive meeting with Coordinator of Student Teachers, University Supervisor, Cooperating Teacher and Student Teacher. Student Teacher given fixed amount of time to render assignments to University Supervisor before removal from student teaching. University Supervisor guided Student Teacher in appropriate lesson planning. Coordinator of Student Teachers required Student Teacher to make up missed days after official conclusion of student teaching duration.
K / Fall 08 / 4-8th Student Teacher had exceptional evaluation from first placement. Student Teacher was granted and communicated specific “accommodations” for successful completion of Physics course concurrent to student teaching as Student Teacher had current grade of “F”. Coordinator of Student Teachers contacted school to communicate accommodations. Student Teacher reconfigured accommodations and agreement after which Student Teacher informed the school. Principal and Cooperating Teacher asked Student Teacher to leave. District personnel asked Student Teacher to leave district. / Coordinator of Student Teachers met with Principal and Assistant Principal. Coordinator of Student Teachers negotiated with District Personnel for Student Teacher to remain in district at different campus. Coordinator of Student Teachers removed Student Teacher from campus and diffused Student Teacher’s rage. Coordinator of Student Teachers and Certification Officer met with Student Teacher, Student Teacher’s mother and Student Teacher’s father (who was on conference call) as per request of Student Teacher’s parents. Father indirectly threatened Coordinator of Student Teachers and Certification Officer as “he was an attorney and it should be known”. Student Teacher admitted wrong doing and completed student teaching at new campus from negotiated arrangements with District Personnel.
L / Fall 08 / EC-4th Student Teacher crying over placement and Capstone Course Instructor; wanted the same instructor as previous course. / Coordinator of Student Teachers ensured the need for Student Teacher to experience a variety of instructors for diverse teaching and learning strategies and that course instructor would remain as assigned. Coordinator of Student Teachers investigated placement to learn that Student Teacher had previous personality conflicts on a campus. Coordinator of Student Teachers reassigned Student Teacher.
M / Fall 08 / EC-4th Student Teacher lacking quality Capstone Course assignments. / Coordinator of Student Teachers and Capstone Course Instructor met with Student Teacher to review submitted Capstone Course work. Coordinator of Student Teachers referred Student Teacher to Department of English Writing Center for tutoring and guidance. Capstone Course Instructor accommodated student with extra time to turn in future assignments.