Field Supervisor Guide and Checklist
For a PDF version of the following information, click here:
Initial Contact
The Field Supervisor must contact the Student Teacher within the first 3 weeks of Student Teacher’s placement either face-to-face, by phone, or via Zoom. Document this initial contact via PowerForm.
Formative Assessments
The Field Supervisor AND the Cooperating Teacher complete a separate Formative Assessment for each Student Teacher. The Field Supervisor completes the Formative Assessment halfway through the clinical teaching semester. The Field Supervisor prompts the Cooperating Teacher to complete the Formative Assessment halfway through the Student Teacher’s placement on that campus.
Summative Assessments
The Field Supervisor AND the Cooperating Teacher complete a separate Summative Assessment for each Student Teacher. The Field Supervisor completes the Summative Assessment at the end of the clinical teaching semester. The Field Supervisor prompts the Cooperating Teacher to complete the Summative Assessment at the end of the Student Teacher’s placement on that campus.
Formal Observations (formerly known as STOTs)
Field Supervisors are required to conduct in-person formal observations of their Student Teachers at each placement. Each visit includes a pre-teach conference, a 45-minute observation, and a post-teach conference.
For each formal observation, the Field Supervisor shall:
participate in an individualized pre-observation conference with the candidate (modality flexible, can be asynchronous);
document educational practices observed (in-person);
provide written feedback through an individualized, synchronous, and interactive post-observation conference with the candidate (modality flexible, must be synchronous); and
Input Cooperating Teacher’s email address in PowerForm to provide a copy of the written feedback to the candidate's Cooperating Teacher (required).
The first in-person formal observation must occur within the first third of all clinical teaching assignments.
For a clinical teaching assignment in one district, the Field Supervisor must provide a minimum of 2 formal observations during the first half of the assignment and a minimum of 2 formal observations during the second half of the assignment, for a total of 4 formal observations.
For a clinical teaching assignment in more than one district, a minimum of 2 formal observations must be provided during the first half of each placement and a minimum of 1 formal observation must be provided during the second half of each placement for a total of 6 formal observations (i.e., 3 on each campus).
Please refer to your Field Supervisor Cheat Sheet for specific pacing guidelines and due dates.
Informal Observations
The Field Supervisor must conduct 3 informal observations over the duration of the clinical teaching semester (in addition to formal observations). The first informal observation must occur in person within the first 6 weeks of the Student Teacher’s start date and after formal observation #1. The remaining 2 informal observations can be conducted virtually or in-person, asynchronously or synchronously.
Informal observations are documented via PowerForm and must include written feedback provided during a post-observation conference with feedback on targeted skills.
Three-Person Conference
The Field Supervisor must conduct a three-person conference with the Student Teacher and Cooperating Teacher at each placement (i.e., submit two three-person conferences by the end of the clinical teaching semester). The timing of these is dependent on Faculty Area Coordinator guidance and Field Supervisor preference.
TEA Observation Log
Document formal observations using the TEA Observation Log; informal observations should not be included in this log, even for the first in-person informal observation. Ensure that the formal observations recorded in this log include 45 minutes of in-person observation.
If a Student Teacher is in one district for both placements, there must be at least two formal observations in the first placement, and two in the second placement. If the Student Teacher is placed in two districts, then there will need to be three formal observations for the first placement and three for the second placement.
Collect each Student Teacher’s TEA ID # for use on TEA Observation Log (you’ll need yours also)
Enter the Initial Contact date with the Student Teacher (this is somewhat duplicative, but it is required)
Email completed log at the end of the semester to fieldexp@austin.utexas.edu and madeleine.cleveland@austin.utexas.edu
Student Teacher Attendance Log
Prompt the Student Teacher to initiate the submission of the Student Teacher Attendance Log via the PowerForm at the end of each placement. The form will route first to the Student Teacher, then the Cooperating Teacher, then to you for review. Before you sign the log (also via PowerForm) do two things:
ensure that the log has correct signatures from the Student Teacher and Cooperating Teacher, and
ensure that the attendance log includes a minimum of 490 hours, with 280 hours completed during the school day (i.e., bell to bell) in the subject area and grade level of the certification sought. Students who do not meet the 490-hour minimum requirement must continue until those minimums are achieved. Once you have verified that information, sign the log via PowerForm and submit.
UTeach Fine Arts Field Supervisor Checklist
At the end of the semester, ensure that you have completed all of the following items for each student teacher.
Initial Contact
Have I contacted my Student Teacher within the 1st 3 weeks of the semester and submitted PowerForm documentation?
Formative Assessments
Have I made sure that Formative Assessments (mine and both Cooperating Teachers) have been completed appropriately and in a timely manner?
Summative Assessments
Have I made sure that Summative Assessments (mine and both Cooperating Teachers) have been completed appropriately and in a timely manner?
Formal Observations
Have I submitted all Formal Observation forms (see above for correct number)?
Was each Formal Observation done in person for a minimum of 45 minutes and included a pre- and post-conference?
Informal Observations
Did I complete my first informal observation AFTER the first Formal Observation and within the first six weeks of the Student Teacher’s clinical teaching start date?
Three-Person Conference
Have I conducted a three-person conference for the first placement with the Student Teacher and Cooperating Teacher and submitted PowerForm documentation?
Have I conducted a three-person conference for the second placement with the Student Teacher and Cooperating Teacher and submitted PowerForm documentation?
TEA Observation Log
Did I include my TEA ID and the Student Teacher’s TEA ID?
Did I list the initial contact date?
If my Student Teacher was placed in one district for the entire semester, have I checked that there are two observations logged in the 1st placement and two in the 2nd placement?
If my Student Teacher was placed in two districts, have I checked that there are three observations logged in the 1st placement and three in the 2nd placement?
Have I checked that all in-person formal observations were a minimum of 45 minutes?
Have I submitted the TEA Observation Log to the Education Services Office (fieldexp@austin.utexas.edu) AND Madeleine Cleveland (madeleine.cleveland@austin.utexas.edu)?
Cooperating Teacher Evaluations
Have I completed the Qualtrics Cooperating Teacher Evaluation Survey? (Link sent via email by UTeach Fine Arts Program Coordinator at the end of semester)
Student Teacher Attendance Log
Have I reviewed and signed off on my Student Teacher’s Attendance Log (received via PowerForm)?
Do my Student Teacher’s attendance hours add up to a minimum of 490 hours and include at least 280 hours during the school-day in a content-area classroom?