College of Education & Professional Studies

OFFICE OF FIELD EXPERIENCES

All professional education programs at UW-Whitewater include a variety of field experiences in schools and other agencies.

These experiences provide teacher candidates with opportunities to complement their academic preparation with real world application under the guidance of expert university and field professionals. Researchers have found that field experiences, especially student teaching, are instrumental in setting the stage for careers that are personally fulfilling, professionally rewarding, and make a positive impact on the students our future teachers will serve.

Planning for field experiences starts with students mapping out their classes in advising, and working with their program coordinators on details for their placements. The Office of Field Experiences works with the different programs and our partner institutions to create placements, ensure all learning goals are communicated, and to coordinate documentation for licensure.

Information on all aspects of the variety of field experiences can be found through the links on the left. If you cannot find what you need, please feel free to contact our staff.

Contact Us

For all general questions and submission of paperwork and evaluations.
fieldexperiences@uww.edu 

Jill Gerber

Data & Special Programs Assistant, Office of Field Experiences
- Observation & Participation
- International Student Teaching

Fred Trotter

Director, Office of Field Experiences
- placements
- CBC disclosures
- qualifications for student teaching
- communications with PreK-12 districts


Handbooks, Resources & Forms

These forms cannot be completed online.
Save the form to your computer and then use Adobe Reader to fill out and save the form. You can download a free copy of Reader at the Adobe Reader Homepage (http://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/). To save the form to your computer, on a PC right-click on the link; on a Mac, control-click on the link.

These resources are organized to provide support for our current cooperating teachers. If you are interested in hosting a teacher candidate, the first step would be to let your building administrator know of your interest. Requets for cooperating teachers start with communication from the Office of Field Experiences to the building administrator.

Student Teaching

Role and Responsibilities of the University Supervisor

Pre-teaching Period

  • Serves as a Liaison Between the University and Cooperating School
  • Provides a communication link between the university and the cooperating school and clarifies for the cooperating teacher the goals and objectives for student teaching.
  • Orients newly appointed cooperating teachers to their roles.
  • Communicates any suggestions made by cooperating teachers to appropriate personnel of the university.
  • Maintains communication with the administration of the cooperating school to enlist its assistance in the development of the student teaching program.
  • Functions as consultant or resource person to school administrators, curriculum directors, directors of instruction, and cooperating teachers. 

Student Teaching Period

Observes

  1. Makes a minimum of four visits of at least one hour in length to observe the undergraduate student teacher during the student teaching period. - or - Spends a minimum of six hours with each graduate practicum student, consisting of at least two on-site visits.
    Schedules visits based on the weekly schedules provided them by student teachers. The initial visits may be arranged in advance with the student teachers and/or cooperating teachers. Some or all visits may be unannounced.
    Shares teaching and learning experiences in the classroom with student teachers and cooperating teachers.
    Confers regularly with the student teacher and the cooperating teacher through three-way (student teacher, cooperating teacher, and university supervisor) or two-way (university supervisor and student teacher or cooperating teacher) conferences.

Evaluates

  1. Discusses with the student teacher logs, journals, or lesson plans which the student teacher has prepared and which may be required by the university supervisor.
  2. Discusses with the student teacher teaching/learning experiences.
  3. Confers regularly with the cooperating teacher.
  4. Reviews cumulative notes or observations made available by the cooperating teacher.
  5. Provides continuous reinforcement and encouragement.
  6. Assists the cooperating teacher in writing the final statement of reference.
  7. Completes an observation report signed by the student teacher for each of a minimum of four visits and a written statement of reference. The observation reports and written statement of reference must be submitted to the Office of Field Experiences within thirty days following the last day of the student teaching assignment.
  8. Conducts at least two conferences with the student teacher and the cooperating teacher.
  9. Determines a final grade for student teaching (Satisfactory or No Credit) in consultation with the cooperating teacher.
  10. Informs the Director of Field Experiences regarding special situations that may arise and areas of concern.

Student Teaching

Student teaching is the final activity before teacher candidates earn their degree and license. To prepare for this, all teacher candidates should be working with their advisors and program coordinators to meet all requirements on time.

Teacher Candidates can also apply for Internships while student teaching. Interns earn a small stipend and teach up to 50% of their day as a certified teacher would.

Important, mandatory dates for teacher candidates wanting to student teach in:

Spring 2023

  • Orientation Meeting - September 13, 2022, 5:00-7:00PM  or September 14, 2022, 3:00-5:00PM (You only need to attend one.)
  • Required Tests for Licensure must be passed by October 1, 2022
  • Send-Off Meeting - January 13, 2023, 9:00-11:00AM 
  • Expected Window of Student Teaching Time - January 20, 2023 to June 9, 2023 (Exact dates may vary.

Fall 2023

  • Orientation Meeting - January 24, 2023, 5:00-7:00PM or January 25, 2023, 3:00-5:00PM (You only need to attend one.)
  • Required Tests for Licensure must be passed by March 1, 2023
  • Send-Off Meeting - August 18, 2023, 9:00-11:00 AM 
  • Expected Window of Student Teaching Time - August 28, 2023 to January 19, 2024 (Exact dates may vary.)

Spring 2024

  • Orientation Meeting - September 12, 2023, 5:00-7:00PM  or September 13, 2023, 3:00-5:00PM (You only need to attend one.)
  • Required Tests for Licensure must be passed by October 1, 2023
  • Send-Off Meeting - January 12, 2024, 9:00AM-11:00AM 
  • Expected Window of Student Teaching Time - January 19, 2024 to June 7, 2024 (Exact dates may vary.)

 

Fall 2023 and Spring 2024

If you view yourself as confident, energetic, and creative and view teaching as a wonderfully challenging adventure, you may qualify for an exciting opportunity to fulfill your student teaching requirement by serving as a Teacher Intern during the semester designated on your licensure plan for student teaching. Individuals selected carry out their teaching under the supervision of a cooperating teacher and a university supervisor, as in student teaching, but generally assume more responsibility than student teachers. Prospective employers may view a Teacher Intern as a more valuable pre-service experience than student teaching.

School districts are charged $5000 per semester per intern. The Teacher Intern is paid a stipend of $4500, based on full-time field participation (50% teaching/50% study, observation, planning). Benefits are not included. Of the remaining $500, $225 is shared by the cooperating teacher and intern to attend a workshop or conference, or to purchase software or books for the classroom, and $225 is applied toward Teacher Internship Program expenses. Interns register and pay for 12 university credits, which fulfill the student teaching requirement for teacher certification. Additional costs are listed under Additional Steps and Information for UW-W Internship Candidates (#11 & #12).

Selection Criteria for Intern Candidates

(Important - Please Read)

The admission of students to the Teacher Internship Program is based on:

  • Evidence of teaching potential and professional commitment
  • Scholastic record
  • Admission to the College of Education & Professional Studies

Special Education majors must receive permission from the Special Education Department PRIOR to completing an intern application. Early Childhood majors must receive permission from the ECE program PRIOR to completing an intern application. Submit an email requesting consideration to the program coordinator.Here is how the Internship process works:

1) Students complete the necessary paperwork to apply to the Teacher Internship Program. They are notified via email if they are or are not approved.

2) Schools who want to hire an intern(s) complete an Intern Request form on the Wisconsin Improvement Program (WIP) website. When their request is approved by WIP, the UW-W Teacher Internship Office is made aware of the request.

3) The Teacher Internship Office notifies intern candidates whenever new openings occur (the same placement rules that apply to student teachers also apply to interns - see information under Teacher Internship Application Process).

4) Intern candidates let the Teacher Internship Office know which openings they want to apply for and the Teacher Internship Office sends their application to those schools.

5) The school(s) decide who to interview and ultimately who they would like to offer the internship to.

6) The intern candidate can accept or reject the school's offer.

7) If an intern candidate does not get an internship, they will student teach during that same semester (in fact, most of the time the intern candidate will have been placed as a student teacher (and that placement will be cancelled if s/he accepts an internship).

8) Acceptance as a candidate to the Teacher Internship Program is considered tentative pending successful completion of all applicable student teaching and internship requirements.  Unsuccessful completion will result in the withdrawal from the Teacher Internship Program.

Application Procedures

  • All application materials are available from this website. If you encounter problems with the website, please contact Jill Gerber.

Deadlines*:

Fall 2023: Applications are due to Jill Gerber by March 1, 2022. Applications will not be accepted until: 1) You have passed Praxis II or have a 3.0 Content GPA 2) All application materials are completed and sent to gerberj@uww.edu. Applicants will be notified of openings via campus email. Attention Spring Applicants for fall internships!!  Don't miss out!!  Some schools interview spring intern positions as early as April, so be sure to have your completed applications in by the March 1st deadline. 

Spring 2024: Applications will be due by October 1, 2022

For more information, please contact  the following: 

Jill Gerber
Winther Hall #2001A
262.472.1935
gerberj@uww.edu

Internship Application Materials

Fall 2023 (due March 1, 2023) and Spring 2024 (due October 1, 2024)

Applications materials should be scanned and sent to   gerberj@uww.edu.
Contact Jill Gerber with questions.
Because MC-EA majors complete their field study at both elementary and middle school levels, student teaching internships may be completed at either the elementary or middle school level. An EA-A major who does his/her field study at the middle school level must student teach or intern at the high school level (and vice versa). Forms/documents necessary to apply for a teacher internship are listed below.
These forms should be completed online.  Save the form to your computer and then use Adobe Reader to fill-out and save the form.  You can download a free copy of Reader at the  Adobe Reader Homepage.  To save the form down to your computer, on a PC right-click on the link; on a Mac, control-click on the link.
All  questions and completed forms should be directed to Jill Gerber-  gerberj@uww.edu

1. Teacher Internship Application Form 
You will need to print out the form to hand sign and date at the bottom.

2. Teacher Internship Clearance Form 

3. FERPA - Complete and give a FERPA form to your reference along with the Reference form referred to above. F.E.R.P.A. stands for Federal Educational Rights & Privacy Act. The purpose is to give your reference permission to complete the reference form for you. Applicants must also complete and turn in one F.E.R.P.A. form for the Teacher Internship Office (giving us permission to send your paperwork to schools in need of interns. For assistance in completing the F.E.R.P.A. form, see #18 under Application Process.

4. Resume

5. ONE (1) Teacher Internship Reference Forms- Applicants should give or send a Reference form to one reference  or have them go online to complete it (and save if preferred).  If a reference completes it online, s/he can print the form, sign, and return to you or to the Teacher Internship Office. You also need to complete and give a FERPA form to your reference and to our office for them/us to keep .

  1. Please scan and send all materials to gerberj@uww.edu. Special Education majors must receive permission to apply. All other students can apply, but must pass the appropriate Praxis II test for your major or have a 3.0 GPA in your major content area before you will be approved.

  2. Meet with the Subject Area Coordinator for your major, taking the Teacher Internship Clearance Form and a copy of your unofficial transcript with you (a list of Subject Area Coordinators is at the bottom of the Teacher Internship Clearance Form). If you are unsure of your student teaching semester, please contact the department of your major. If you have a Bilingual/Bicultural minor, note the additional required signature.

  3. A minimum combined GPA of 2.75 is required for application to the Teacher Internship Program and must be maintained throughout the remaining educational program.

  4. A grade of C (2.00) or better in any course or approved equivalency in your program area (defined as both major and licensure area) is required and must be maintained throughout the remaining educational program.  An incomplete in any of these courses is unacceptable. If you repeat a course, the repeated grade will count.

  5. One reference from a UW-W faculty member is required. Give or mail your reference the reference form and completed COEPS F.E.R.P.A form. The F.E.R.P.A. form (completed and signed by you) gives your reference permission to complete the reference form for you; therefore, your reference should keep the F.E.R.P.A. form. See #18 below for suggestions for completing the F.E.R.P.A. forms. Some references prefer to complete the reference form online (they will need to print the completed reference form, sign, and send or fax to the address on the form). Completed reference forms can also be given/sent to the intern applicant. 

  6. Applicants must also complete one F.E.R.P.A. form for the Teacher Internship Office, as we need permission to send your file to schools interested in hiring an intern (see #18 below for suggestions for completing the F.E.R.P.A. form). 
  7. As part of the approval procedure, the Teacher Internship Coordinator may solicit input regarding the qualifications of applicants from faculty members in the UW-Whitewater Departments of: Curriculum & Instruction; Educational Foundations; Special Education; and/or other academic departments. 

  8. The Teacher Internship Office only communicates with students via their University email address. 

  9. After reviewing each completed file, the intern candidate's student teacher semester will be verified and an email will be sent indicating approval or denial. Approval as a prospective intern does not guarantee the availability or awarding of a Teacher Internship placement. A student may reapply to the Teacher Internship Program if circumstances should change for a student who has been denied acceptance. 

  10. Approved Intern candidates will be notified regularly via email of schools requesting interns.  Intern candidates will then notify the Teacher Internship Office where to send their files.  Typically, school personnel review the files, select candidates for interviews, and contact those students directly. Feel free to check with the Teacher Internship Program Office on the status of your application at any time. 

  11. Each UW-W Teacher Intern will be charged $200, which covers an administrative fee charged by DPI.  This should be paid when you receive your first paycheck.  No intern will receive a passing grade for the internship until this is paid. All checks/money order should be payable to : UW-Whitewater and  delivered to Office of Field Experience, Winther 2003.

  12. Interns are subject to identical requirements as student teachers with respect to the TB test and criminal background checks. 

  13. Interns may not leave an internship placement early to accept a teaching position. 

  14. Special Education and ECE majors will enroll in their content-appropriate seminars. All other majors must enroll in CIGENRL 470.

  15. Teacher Intern candidates and those with confirmed internships must attend all student teacher meetings, which are held on campus or remotely.

  16. If your application is approved but a placement does not occur, you will be assigned a regular student teaching placement by the Office of Field Experiences.

  17. The files of Teacher Internship candidates not receiving an internship will be discarded at the end of the semester. 

  18. The following guidelines for completing the COEPS FERPA form are only suggestions:  I AUTHORIZE:  UW-Whitewater Teacher Internship Program Office (on the FERPA form for each reference, write in the reference's name).    TO DISCLOSE...:  grades and academic transcript; performance observation notes, evaluation instruments or information, general comments about performance in a course during a field experience (Field Studies, Student Teaching, Internship, Practicum, etc.)  OTHER (SPECIFY):  verification of hiring and salary  TO THE FOLLOWING...:  prospective employer(s); school official(s) responsible for admission to educational programs; individual(s) responsible for scholarship, grants, etc.; OTHER (SPECIFY):  rental agencies  FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON(S)  (explain):  Future employment; pursuit of further education; salary verification for housing purposes; grants/scholarships  THIS AUTHORIZATION WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL:  we suggest putting a date of two years from the date of signing. 
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