Student Teaching Information and Policies

Student Teaching Information

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester: September 15
  • Spring Semester: February 15

Application Directions

The online student teaching application system is divided into two parts:

Part 1

Students will fill out the online portion as they have in previous semesters.

Part 2

A Qualtrics survey allows students to upload all of the documentation necessary for their application.  

Once students submit Part 2, their advisor or designated application reviewer will receive an email that includes a summary of the application, including links to all documents submitted by the student.  Advisors and reviewers will go over the application to ensure that the student is academically eligible to participate in internship. If everything checks out, the reviewer then responds to the email they received with their decision (approved or denied).

To complete your student teaching please refer to the Internship Application Documents and Supporting Materials. 

Can students choose their own placements?

  • Not officially. School district divisions assign placements. Although, students can submit a preference. Therefore, it is important to develop strong relationships with local teachers during your field experience placements.

Student Teacher Policies

Student teaching is a time of great personal and professional growth. It is hard work and can be both exciting and stressful. Flexibility in adapting to differences in (a) school cultures, (b) teaching styles, (c) student needs, and (d) teaching philosophies should help to reduce anxiety and increase growth. Some general expectations include:

  • Earn the respect and confidence of your colleagues by demonstrating initiative, responsibility, and resourcefulness.
  • Learn from everyone around you, but especially from your students.
  • Learn from your mistakes.
  • Ask for assistance, advice, feedback, coaching, and criticism. Act on it as appropriate.
  • As a new teacher, it is recommended that you plan regularly. Planning is one area where you should not emulate an experienced teacher.
  • Demonstrate high standards of ethics and professionalism in your dealings with colleagues, students, and parents.
  • Be responsible for initiation of Progress Reports, completion of the Log of Hours, and submitting all documentation to the university supervisor on/or before posted deadlines.
  • Video record teaching sessions regularly, selecting one lesson at the beginning of each placement to analyze using the Video Observation Report.
  • Prepare and present an e-Portfolio that showcases teaching exemplars from your internship experience.

More specific expectations include:

Child Abuse. The ST is required to comply with state regulations pertaining to child abuse and neglect recognition. Compliance is assessed through an online course provided by the Virginia Department of Social Service.

Dress Code. The student teacher is expected to meet professional standards of personal appearance in every respect. It is important that the first impression is a positive and lasting one. In addition, the basic idea of dressing professionally is to distinguish the student teacher from the students. Respectable attire is necessary. Collared shirts, dress slacks, and comfortable dress shoes are acceptable examples. Casual clothing such as T-shirts, ripped jeans, and revealing clothing is not permitted.
 
Ethics. Accepting a teaching position places the student teacher in a position of authority over students. This comes with great responsibility. The student teacher is expected to embrace a high standard of ethical behavior. The faculty in the Dewberry School of Music have adopted the National Education Association Code of Ethics as the standard. The student teacher is expected to read and follow abide by these guidelines.
 
Outside Activities. Commitments outside student teaching are not a valid excuse for failing to fulfill all duties and responsibilities of the internship. Performing in an ensemble, directing a church or community ensemble, private studio teaching, and working a part-time job are a few examples of outside activities that can interfere with student teaching. During the internship, student teaching responsibilities are the priority.
 
Principal’s Authority. The principal has the authority to suspend and/or remove the student teacher from interning in their school at any time prior to, or during the internship. Such dismissal may come without prior notification to the student teacher, the university supervisor, the Director of Music Education, the administration in the Dewberry School of Music, and/or the Clinical Practice Office.
 
Professional and Legal Responsibilities. Student teachers are legally responsible for exercising “reasonable care” for students’ welfare and for complying with federal, state, and local policies and regulations. This can be accomplished through reading the school’s teacher handbook. The student teacher is expected to ask the mentor teacher for access to this information.

Social Media. The student teacher is cautioned against posting any comments or images to social media pertaining to the (a) school district (b) assigned school site, (c) students, (d) parents of students, (e) faculty, and (f) staff therein. Inflammatory, derogatory, and/or disparaging remarks are the antithesis of acceptable teacher dispositions and can be considered grounds for immediate removal from internship.
 
Substitute Teaching. The student teacher, if properly credentialed by the school district, is permitted to serve as a substitute teacher if officially hired to do so. The student teacher is not permitted to serve as a substitute teacher if not officially hired. The mentor teacher, and their principal, has the authority to make the decision whether to hire the student teacher as a substitute. In the event the student teacher is not hired as a substitute, the school must provide a substitute teacher if the student teacher teaches in absence of the mentor teacher.