The Ocean Springs School Board, recognizing both its responsibility to improve the quality of teacher training and the contribution that student teachers can make to the schools, encourages the administration to cooperate with teacher-training institutions in the placement of student teachers in the district's schools in all reasonable ways.  All initial arrangements with the colleges or other institutions shall be subject to Board approval.  ' 37-132-1 (1973)

The importance of teacher-training to the future of education, and the need to assure a high quality of performance in our schools, demand that student teachers be placed only with the best teachers.  Because they continue their primary responsibility, (the education of their students), their commitment is doubled.  These teachers must have demonstrated a capacity and willingness to meet these additional demands.  The teacher, in cooperation with the principal and the representative of the preparation institution, shall assign the student teacher or intern responsibilities and duties that will provide adequate preparation for teaching.  ' 37-132-3 (1973)

Recognizing the special skills and expertise of the teacher preparation institution and its staff, the Board authorizes the administration to honor the reasonable rules, regulations, and training guidelines of the sending institution.

In all arrangements made with preparation institutions, the school district shall have the privilege of interviewing and accepting or rejecting individual candidates for student teaching and internships.

Any student teacher or intern under the supervision of a certificated teacher, principal, or other administrator shall have the protection of the laws accorded the certificated employee of the district.  While acting as a student teacher or intern, he/she shall comply with all rules and regulations of the district and observe those duties assigned certificated personnel.  ' 37-132-5 (1973)

The school administration shall devise procedures for evaluating the performance of student teachers which meet requirements of the sending institution and fit with the district's policies.

Teacher-Student Teacher Relations

The Board of Trustees welcomes the opportunity to cooperate with the colleges and universities by taking an active part in the training and preparation of student teachers.

It shall be the duty of the central administrative office to determine the number of student teachers and the academic areas to be served each quarter or semester.  This decision will be reached after consultation with the principal concerning such placement.

The following regulations shall apply:

1.    Placement shall be made by the central administrative office.

2.    Student teachers shall be assigned to the school rather than to individual teachers.

3.    The principal shall determine a schedule and make assignments within each school.

4.    Student teachers will be assigned to a team of teachers, whenever possible, and will work under the leadership of the team members.

5.    First year teachers shall not be assigned student teachers.

6.    Teachers shall be responsible for the following:

a.    Pupil discipline

b.    Pupil evaluation

c.    Pupil assignments (length and quality)

d.    Proper delegation of student teaching time.

7.    Teachers must understand that student teachers may prove invaluable in the education of the pupils in their classes, but by no means is it intended that student teachers replace the teachers in the classroom.  It shall be considered mandatory that teachers do not desert student teachers in the classroom.

8.    The teacher is responsible for everything that takes place in the classroom, whether he has a student teacher or not.

9.    Administrators may deem it necessary and beneficial to student teachers to involve them in school activities other than instructional.

10.    The following time table is recommended in determining student teachers' actual teaching time and classroom management:

a.    Phase No. 1 -- 3 weeks:  observation, orientation and assisted instruction

b.    Phase No. 2 -- 3 weeks:  observation and supervised participation

c.    Phase No. 3 -- 3 weeks:  supervised participation, planning, and introductory instruction

d.    Phase No. 4 -- 3 weeks:  continued supervised participation, planning, and instruction.

The classroom teacher is responsible for the implementation of the above time table which should be sufficiently flexible to meet the needs of the student teacher and pupils.  It is expected that by Phase No. 4 the student teacher engage in all facets of classroom instruction which would include pupil evaluation.  However, no student teacher evaluation will be considered final or absolute.

LEGAL REF.: MS CODE as cited

CROSS REF.: Policy GADD - Beginning Teacher Support Program

ADOPTED:    07/13/1976

REVISED:    10/17/2006