At Roosevelt, job-embedded training to become a licensed teacher is highly valued. Consistent with the mission of the university, our teacher preparation programs engage with community agencies, schools, and districts in metropolitan Chicago as both laboratories for learning and as an expression of our commitment to social justice.
Given our commitments, teacher candidates who are currently employed as full-time substitutes, instructional aids, or in other classroom or instructional support roles at grade or age levels appropriate for their anticipated Professional Educator License (PEL) are able to complete required field experiences at their location of employment, subject to the approval of the Director of Clinical Experiences.
Requirements for Approval
To earn approval to complete required clinical experiences at a current workplace, teacher candidates must submit an online Request for Clinical Partnership each semester, within two weeks of enrollment. Please note that it is not possible for Secondary Education teacher candidates to request a clinical partnership for Instructional Coaching 1, although they CAN request a clinical partnership for Instructional Coaching 2 and Student Teaching. These requests are also due within two weeks of enrollment each semester.
A workplace supervisor must sign the form to confirm the accuracy of the information provided and the interest of the employer in developing a clinical partnership with Roosevelt University. Please note that previous employment and volunteer work are not sufficient to apply for a clinical partnership.
The Request for Clinical Partnership form can be obtained from the Director of Clinical Experiences and the Assistant Dean for Student Support & Licensure. Prior to submission of the request, candidates should consult with their advisor and workplace supervisors.
The following criteria must be met in order to receive approval for a clinical partnership:
- The workplace setting must be age or grade appropriate for the PEL endorsement
- The workplace setting must meet student diversity requirements required for the PEL endorsement(s)
- Candidates must be in good academic standing and have satisfactory ratings on their assessments of professional dispositions
- The work supervisor must confirm employment and, if needed, accreditation and must approve modifications to work roles or responsibilities required to comply with licensure requirements
- With respect to student teaching, the employer must be able to assign a cooperating teacher that is licensed in the appropriate area and meets all other qualifications established by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Teacher candidates who earn approval will be required to demonstrate their continued employment and the fulfillment of the criteria listed above. In addition, teacher candidates who receive approval must enroll in all field and clinical experience courses required for the Professional Educator License.
It is the responsibility of teacher candidates who obtain clinical partnerships to immediately notify their field experience or student teaching course instructors, the Assistant Dean of Student Support & Licensure and the Director of Clinical Experiences should their employment end or job responsibilities or conditions change in any manner. The Director of Clinical Experiences will review the change and make decisions about the next best steps to follow, in consultation with the Chair of the Department of Teacher Preparation.