Judith Herb College of Education

Partner Schools and School Districts

Field experiences are vital for JHCOE students aspiring to become teachers. School and district partnerships provide the opportunity to enter real-world classroom environments for observation and participation, while experienced educators offer mentorship and share invaluable insights from their teaching careers. 

Partner schools and districts provide our students with valuable, diverse classroom experiences, while benefiting from fresh perspectives and enthusiasm. To accommodate our teacher candidates' academic commitments, field experiences take place at partner schools preferably located within a 30-mile radius of campus.  Click below for a full list of our partner sites.

Current Partner Schools and School Districts

To satisfy course and licensure requirements, JHCOE students need real-world classroom experiences in the following forms:

• Practicum: The practicum is the students' initial field experience taken alongside the methods courses.
  Students engage part-time for a full semester.
• Internship: This is the capstone student teaching field experience taken during the student's senior year.
  Students engage full-time for a full semester.

Established Partnerships

Do you already have an established partnership with the JHCOE? 

For administrators seeking JHCOE students to come into their school or within a district, contact the Office of Field Experiences at  jhcoefield@utoledo.edu or 419-530-2495.

For PreK-12 teachers seeking JHCOE students, visit the Mentor Teacher Page.

Pre-Service Teacher Permits for Teacher Candidates

We understand that all Teacher Candidates who enter your school or school district must adhere to safety regulations including background checks. All JHCOE Teacher Candidates who enter the schools, whether for a Practicum or Internship field experience, have a Pre-Service Teacher Permit (PSTP) and the required BCI/FBI background checks. 

Please see Partner Schools and School District FAQs related to PSTPs for more clarification on substitute teaching with a PSTP and other information.

Principles of Partnership

At The University of Toledo, we believe that preparing future teachers is a collaborative effort between the JHCOE and local PreK-12 schools. We provide foundational education, specialized training, and professional theory, along with supervisory and coordinating support for all field experiences. Teacher candidates should receive detailed information about school policies and have opportunities to engage with the entire school, participate in staff activities, and observe various personnel in different settings.

Our partner schools offer real-world settings for observation and participation, as well as mentors to guide and evaluate our teacher candidates. Local schools providing facilities for practicums and student teaching internships should do so with the full knowledge and approval of their chief administrative officer and board of education.

Clear communication and mutual respect are essential to this partnership. To ensure this, responsibilities are outlined in formal affiliation agreements. 

Affiliation Agreements

All school and school district partners must have an up-to-date affiliation agreement with the JHCOE. This agreement outlines our commitment to providing teacher education candidates and your role in offering them practical experience. The agreement is renewed every three years.

For questions about Affiliation Agreements, please contact the Manager for Accreditation and Assessment and JHCOEAssessment@utoledo.edu or 419-530-2745.

Key Parties and Communication Pathways

The field experience partnership consists of four key parties:

1. Teacher Candidate: a JHCOE student doing their practicum or student teaching internship.
2. Mentor Teacher: a licensed teacher employed by the school who has agreed to host the Teacher Candidate in their classroom. The Mentor Teacher is to help the Teacher Candidate navigate the school and classroom atmosphere.
3. Field Supervisor: an experienced teacher employed by the JHCOE to evaluate the effectiveness of planning, instruction, assessment, and the classroom environment. The Field Supervisor is the liaison between the school and the university who answers questions and provides guidance to the Teacher Candidate or the Mentor Teacher. 
4. Field Experience Coordinator: an individual employed by the JHCOE to oversee the operations and logistics of the field experience for all parties.

It is essential that all parties in the partnership understand the communication pathways and the established hierarchy to follow for structured support or advice. Knowing who to contact if a challenge arises is crucial for maintaining a smooth and effective partnership. In essence, the Field Supervisor and the JHCOE are always willing to help when questions arise.

Back to the Office of Field Experiences