Introduction

The principles of the collaborative partnership between school districts and the Faculty of Education were discussed. The following principles were reaffirmed:
 

• the partners share in the responsibility of the preparation of teachers through the internship program;
• the University serves in a number of functions, e.g., placement, liaison, research;
• the school district collaborates in placements and monitors the overall delivery of the internship in its district;
• the school district has responsibility for the selection of cooperating teachers and supervisors.

One of the goals of the two-day session was to focus on the cooperating teachers’ role and provide direction for future professionalization of cooperating teachers in all provincial school districts relative to their work with interns. The following were advanced:

Attributes/Qualifications
 

• Has completed 3-5 years of successful teaching;
• Demonstrates excellence in teaching;
• Demonstrates interest in continuing education and professional development;
• Has indicated interest in the professional development of student interns;
• Is committed to the principles, roles and responsibilities of the internship.

Responsibilities
 

• Preparing students to accept the intern as a professional colleague and not as another student or an aide;
• Establishing good working relationships as early as possible, introducing the intern to other school personnel and clarifying their roles;
• Helping and encouraging the intern to explore school records, test materials, teacher resources, and special services, and to ask questions about the students, the school, and the community;
• Presenting to the intern an outline of the long-range goals and the organization of the grade or course;
• Demonstrating good teaching and helping the intern to analyze and understand why it is good teaching;
• Assisting the intern in the critical-reflective analysis of the relationship between theory and practice with the intent of improving practice;
• Facilitating the development of independence of the intern by taking an inconspicuous position in the room while the intern is in charge;
• Conferring with the supervisor regarding the intern’s progress; and
• Preparing reports of the intern’s progress and discussing these reports with the intern.

The supervisor, along with the cooperating teacher, is responsible for summative evaluation of the intern. Supervisors should ensure that interns are given the opportunity and time to reflect on their teaching practice. This can be done in collaboration with the University district liaison person.

Supervisory responsibilities are essential to the internship. The University and school districts will continue to dialogue on this critical aspect of the internship in the upcoming year.