If a mentor teacher must be absent on a short term basis (1 - 5 days) a substitute teacher must be present in the classroom. The teacher intern's responsibilities should include only those which have been previously defined. The teacher intern may observe or assist the substitute in ongoing classroom activities.
LONG TERM ABSENCE OF THE MENTOR TEACHER
If the mentor teacher is expected to be absent for an extended period of time (in excess of a week) the university supervisor must be contacted to determine whether alternative arrangements must be made.
THE MENTOR TEACHER LEAVING THE ROOM
The teacher intern may be in the classroom by himself/herself for short periods of time when there is a necessity. This should only occur when the mentor teacher decides that the teacher intern can handle the classroom. If an emergency arises and the mentor teacher must leave the room for more than a few minutes he/she should tell another teacher that the teacher intern is in the room alone. During the full time teaching take over the mentor teacher may leave the room for extended periods of time. The mentor teacher should always inform the teacher intern of where he/she is going in the building. *This policy regulating the mentor teacher's leaving the teacher intern in the room alone may vary in some professional development school sites or differ depending upon the educational specialty.
RELATIONSHIP WITH CHILDREN/YOUTH
Always find out what the school policy or norms are with respect to touching students. Most schools have guidelines (either explicit or implicit) regarding physical contact.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TEACHER INTERNS AND STUDENTS
There may be times when students, especially adolescents, attempt to become more personal and intimate than the teacher intern - student relationship would warrant. Teacher interns are cautioned to avoid physical or emotional intimacy with students. Close personal relationships with students compromise the integrity of the teacher intern's professional role in the classroom. This may have a serious impact on the student teaching experience.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TEACHER INTERNS AND OTHER TEACHERS
In a relatively small number of cases, student teaching experiences have become unsuccessful and distressful because of a lapse in professionalism on the part of a teacher intern, mentor teacher, or other teacher in the school placement. Teacher interns are cautioned to avoid intimate, personal relationships such as dating other professionals in their placement site. It is very difficult to maintain the conditions necessary for the teacher intern's growth when too close of a personal relationship exists between the teacher intern and another individual at the school. If a school staff member approaches a teacher intern in a personal or intimate manner, he/she is advised to discourage such attention. If it persists, it should be reported immediately to the university supervisor.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEACHER INTERNS AND PARENTS
Relating to parents is one of the most important roles of a classroom teacher. However, teacher interns may only have limited experience in this role. Due to the sensitive nature of school/community relations, teacher interns are advised not to jeopardize their own positions or the position of the school in the community by initiating or responding to any personal overtures from parents. Consistent inappropriate behavior should be reported to the mentor teacher and the university supervisor.
LIABILITY AND AUTHORITY OF TEACHER INTERNS
Because of an act passed in the Maryland Legislature during the Spring
1974, student teachers qualify for liability insurance and workman's compensation
in amount comparable to those of regularly employed teachers in the school
system in which they are placed. In other words, the teacher intern
is covered under the law for the time he/she is in the classroom during
student teaching. Because the school system coverage is sometimes
limited we strongly encourage the teacher intern to purchase additional
coverage. More information regarding coverage and liability insurance
is included in the student teaching assignment materials. The following
is an excerpt from the Maryland State Law:
| Liability Insurance and Workman's Compensation:
Student teachers and student interns are considered agents of the county board for the limited purposes of:
While the teacher intern is assigned as a student teacher, he/she shall be given the same authority as if he/she were a certified teacher of the county. The authority of the student teacher extends to every aspect of student management of discipline; the handling of records of students, and any other aspect of authority granted to a certificated employee of a county. |
Upon graduating, a teacher intern will receive a diploma indicating that he/she has completed an NCATE and NASDTEC accredited Bachelor's degree program in teacher education. The teacher intern's name will be sent to MSDE verifying that they are eligible for certification. Upon being offered a teaching contract from one of the Maryland county boards of education, the personnel officer will process the application for the certificate. If a teacher intern is seeking certification in another state after graduation, that state will determine how to verify eligibility for certification. Additional questions about receiving a Maryland certificate should be directed to the MSDE.
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Last updated on November 18, 2002