Host/Mentor Teachers

Our teacher candidates depend on fulfilling their requirements for certification with the assistance and expertise of practicing teachers. A sincere "thank you" to the many professionals who mentor a future colleague.

Early Field Experience

Certification requirements established by NYSED mandate that teacher candidates complete a minimum of 100 hours early field experience in classrooms prior to student teaching. Students are able to meet this requirement through fieldwork assignments associated with specific courses.

Teacher candidates are required to complete an Early Field Experience Log Sheet to document their hours, as well as record which of the mandated criteria has been met. Host teachers confirm this information with their signature and completed log sheets are then submitted to the course instructor. Teacher candidates who do not submit their fieldwork log cannot receive a passing course grade.

Student Teaching

Student teaching is the culmination of the teacher education program. It provides the opportunity to put all previous field experience and pedagogical instructions into practice.

Guidelines and expectations for mentor teachers are outlined in the Student Teaching Handbook. Along with regular weekly feedback, mentor teachers provide online mid-quarter and final evaluations for their student teachers.

Teacher candidates will be assigned a College Supervisor who is hired by their department/program of study and is the point person during the student teaching experience.

Interested in Hosting?

Faculty Associate Benefits

The title of faculty associate is given to classroom teachers and administrators who are currently hosting teacher candidates in early field experiences and student teaching. Benefits include:

Special College ID with designation as faculty associate
Campus parking sticker at faculty rate
Recognition at College-sponsored events
Faculty Associate discount of 10% at the SUNY Cortland bookstore
Access to the College library
Use of Student Life Center and other fitness and recreation facilities at faculty rate
Access to campus events such as plays, concerts, speakers and athletic contests at faculty rate
Access to on-campus conferences at faculty rate

In addition, when hosting a teacher candidate in an eight-week student teaching placement, the mentor teacher may select either a $250 SUNY tuition waiver or a $200 cash stipend. Please note that these amounts are established by the State University of New York and not SUNY Cortland.

Host School Benefits

Distance learning opportunities
Educational technology workshops
Professional development opportunities
Participation of College faculty in collaborative grant writing
Access to College speakers for school programs
Use of limited campus facilities for field trips and meetings
Opportunities for elementary and secondary students to tour the SUNY Cortland campus
Opportunities for your students to attend, at no cost, athletic events and talk with coaches and players, with attention given to NCAA guidelines regarding recruitment (prior permission required)
Use of faculty associates as adjunct or visiting faculty at the College through application
Professional collaborative dialogues between College faculty and faculty associates

Ready to Host?

For more information about the benefits of hosting a teacher candidate, please write, call, email or visit.

Field Experience and School Partnerships Office
Education Building, Room 1105
SUNY Cortland
P.O. Box 2000
Cortland, NY 13045-0900
Phone: 607-753-2824
Fax: 607-753-5966
Email: fesp@cortland.edu