3.3 Cooperating Teacher

Contributions of the cooperating teacher are vital to the successful development of the candidate into a professional educator.

The cooperating teacher must hold a current professional Minnesota Education license in the applicable licensure field and have taught for a minimum of three years.

Attention to the safety of the students is always the responsibility of the cooperating teacher.

The cooperating teacher provides necessary communication with the teacher candidate and the university supervisor. Communication includes:

• Clarification of expectations for the teacher candidate regarding policies and procedures of the school and classroom,
• Regular observations of and conferences with the candidate,
• Review and evaluation of lesson plans,
• Encouragement and support as well as discussion of problems or concerns with the teacher candidate,
• Midway and final tri-conferences with the university supervisor and teacher candidate,
• An optional but strongly encouraged letter of recommendation on school letterhead may also be submitted and signed by the cooperating teacher.

Evaluation and Assessment

The cooperating teacher evaluates the teacher candidate both informally every day and formally midway and at the end of student teaching. The midway evaluation indicates progress and suggests areas of further development. The final online evaluation summarizes the teacher candidate's performance throughout the student teaching experience and is placed in the candidate's file in the School of Education Office. The cooperating teacher should have the online evaluation completed for the final three-way conference with the university supervisor and teacher candidate.  Final submission of the online evaluation should take place within five days of the completion of the student teaching placement.  

A remuneration will be sent to the cooperating teacher, or district if so stated in the placement agreement, upon completion of the experience.  The University requires a signed W-9 form on file in the University Business Office.  Questions regarding remunerations should be directed to the Director of Field Experiences and Student Teaching.