Student Teaching Handbook - Butler University

Student Teaching assignments are made in terms of providing the best experience possible. Preferences are considered,
BUT factors such as the availability of high quality classrooms which reflect best practices within a school and super-.
visory loads must also be considered. It is the goal that during student teaching our candidates are placed with high
quality mentors, teach in high needs areas, teach diverse pupils and show impact on P-12 learning. Candidates must
be willing to accept the assignment as determined by the College to be both in the student’s best interest and within the
resources that are available to provide proper supervision and a quality student teaching experience.
The College of Education at Butler University with the cooperation of area schools places candidates for student teaching
in public, private or parochial school classrooms in the greater Indianapolis metropolitan area. This area could include
Marion and the contiguous counties. The program also provides opportunities for student teaching abroad.
When a corporation accepts a student teacher, a signed contract is returned to the College of Education. It is possible
that a request for student teaching placement may have to be submitted to several school districts before a placement is
confirmed. Some reasons that an applicant may not be accepted by a corporation are the following:
1. poor quality of application (spelling, grammar)
2. marginal grades in professional education and/or content area
3. school corporations requiring a 3.0 or better
4. Late applications (many school corporations have completed their student teaching assignments by February
and contact our office with the message that they will not take any more student teachers for the coming year).
5. Some corporations only permit their teachers to take one student teacher per year.
6. Some corporations take only a limited number of student teachers.
7. School corporations have several levels of review and the application may be stopped at any level; i.e. superintendent,
personnel director, principal, department head and the classroom teachers.
Candidates will receive confirmed placement information at the end of semester orientation seminar prior to the academic
year of student teaching. Candidates will be sent an additional confirming email in July/August prior to the start
of fall student teaching or December prior to the start of spring student teaching.
Pending a confirmed placement student teachers MUST attend a pre-professional meeting. Administrative and performance
requirements will be reviewed. This meeting will take place near the end of the semester immediately prior to the
student teaching semester. Candidates will be notified via Butler email of date and location of this required meeting.
Prerequisite Assignment: Placement Introduction
Prior to the start of student teaching the candidate should make contact with the cooperating teacher and principal.
The Prerequisite Assignment: Placement Introduction Checklist
1. Contact the teacher and arrange a convenient time to meet. Call or email the teacher at school.
2. At the meeting with the teacher:
• Exchange phone numbers, emails, and addresses.
• Confirm with the cooperating teacher the first day to report to school.
• Determine whether to meet again with the cooperating teacher before student teaching begins.
• Pick up any supporting materials to be used, i.e., teacher editions of textbooks, workbooks, planning
overviews, CDs, websites, etc.
• If possible, determine what parts of the curriculum, courses, subjects, or units you will be responsible for
teaching.
• Request classroom rules, guidelines and the student handbook.
• Also obtain a copy of the faculty handbook and/or department policies.
3. Contact the principal and clarify who should receive the Criminal History Check report and what type of
Criminal History Check is required by their district. If you have two placements, at different schools, contact
the principal or central office administration at each school regarding this important matter.
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