Practicum, Shadow Hours & Student Teaching
PRACTICUM, SHADOW HOURS & STUDENT TEACHERS
PURPOSE
Columbus Public Schools supports opportunities for college students, current employees, and other education professionals to gain practical experience in our schools. To ensure placements are appropriate, equitable, and supportive of CPS students and staff, all practicum, shadow, internship, and student-teaching experiences must be coordinated and approved in advance.
REQUEST & APPROVAL PROCESS
Requests for practicum hours, shadow hours, internships, or student teaching must come directly from the college/university and/or professor to Sara Colford. Requests must be submitted before a placement begins. Individuals completing a placement must be willing to meet all applicable CPS expectations and requirements. A request does not guarantee placement.
HOW PLACEMENTS ARE DETERMINED
CPS determines both the placement location and cooperating/host teacher. Student or college preferences may be considered but cannot be guaranteed. CPS will consider:
- Conflicts of interest. Friends, relatives, former teachers, or other relationships may constitute a conflict of interest and affect the placement or supervision arrangement.
- Host-teacher qualifications. A CPS teacher must meet applicable college/university, CPS, and Nebraska Department of Education requirements to host.
- District capacity. CPS must have sufficient capacity for the number and type of placements requested.
- Institutional partnership. Prior cooperative relationships between CPS and the requesting college or university may be considered.
COMPENSATION
Practicum hours are not compensated by CPS.
Internships: Compensation is determined by the individual’s employment status with CPS (see Who These Guidelines Apply To).
Student teachers are generally not compensated by CPS. Exceptions may include paid training specifically approved in advance or substitute teaching performed in accordance with District requirements.
WHO THESE GUIDELINES APPLY TO
Current degree-seeking college students, CPS employees pursuing an additional degree or endorsement, and employees of other school districts completing required experiences within CPS. For current CPS employees, the experience falls into one of these categories:
- As part of current employment: May occur while fulfilling duties under the employee's current contract when placement requirements and the current position appropriately align.
- In addition to or outside current employment: Not part of the paid CPS assignment. Appropriate leave, including unpaid or personal leave when applicable, must be used. CPS will not provide a substitute simply to allow an employee to complete practicum or student-teaching requirements.
- Personal-professional leave: Considered only when an agreement for future employment in the degree or endorsement area is in place. Approval is determined by the Superintendent.
Completion of a degree, endorsement, practicum, internship, or student-teaching experience within CPS does not guarantee promotion, reassignment, or future employment in that position.
RESOURCES FOR STUDENT TEACHERS
Approved student teachers receive resources to participate successfully in the CPS environment. These are specific to student teaching and are not automatically provided for practicum or shadow experiences:
- CPS laptop for the duration of student teaching
- @discoverers.org email account
- Mentor meetings and check-ins for support
- Appropriate building FOB and classroom key
- CPS swag gift
COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL
High school students enrolled in the education courses taught at CHS may complete their hours by arrangement with building principals and their teacher. They are exempt from this process.
KEY THINGS TO REMEMBER
Plan ahead. Requests go through the college/university to Sara Colford before the experience begins.
Placement is a District decision. CPS determines the school, location, and cooperating teacher.
Employment and college requirements are separate. CPS employment does not automatically make these requirements part of a paid assignment.
No guarantee of future employment. Completing an experience or credential does not guarantee a new position, promotion, or reassignment.
Student teachers receive additional resources. Technology, email, building access, and mentoring are provided to approved student teachers.
Questions? Contact Sara Colford. Email: colfords@discoverers.org Phone: 402-563-7000 x 11753.