Serving as a Partner Teacher
Your Role as a Partner Teacher
The Partner Teacher is the classroom teacher who works closely with one or more Pre-service Teachers, opens their professional life to the student, and very gradually increases the Pre-service Teacher's involvement in classroom curriculum, learning, and activities. We would be happy to share our Comprehensive Handbook, which outlines your role in full. To request a copy, please reach out to upefield@ucalgary.ca
For more information about our Field Experiences, from a partner teacher perspective, click here.
Supporting Field Experience
If you are interested in mentoring a Pre-Service Teacher from the Werklund School of Education, we would be delighted to include you in our Partner Teacher Roster! We look forward to reaching out to School Principals and Liaisons to recruit supportive Schools and Partner Teachers for the upcoming academic year in the Spring!
Calgary & Area Schools:
We rely on our Partner Teacher roster when matching pre-service teachers with schools and partner teachers. Each year, have over 1,000 placements in Calgary and area!
- To express your interest and support: Principals, school liaisons and teachers are invited to complete the "Partner Teacher: Expression of Interest Form". If you are a teacher, please confirm your Principal supports your expression of interest before filling out this form.
Rural & Remote Schools in Western Canada:
Our community-based placements are coordinated through your school district offices. Each year, have over 300 placements in rural & remote western Canada!
- To express your interest and support: Principals and School Liaisons are encouraged to work with their school district. If you are teacher, please let your Principal know you are interested in serving as a Partner Teacher to a pre-service teacher from the Werklund School of Education.
Partner Teacher Requirements
- We require the full support of School Principal, Liaison and School Board to place a pre-service teacher
- A minimum of a Bachelor of Education degree, or its equivalent, as approved by the Minister of Education, and a Permanent Teaching Certificate (or the support of your School Leadership Team)
- A minimum of three years of successful teaching
- An interest in, and a positive attitude toward, teaching and working with university students
- Ability to effectively discuss teaching and learning
- Ability to establish and maintain good interpersonal skills and apply proactive communication skills
- A willingness to assist student teachers throughout their field experience, by providing in-class demonstrations of more effective teaching strategies
- A willingness to continue his/her professional development and to take part in consultations, meetings and workshops related to the field experiences
- Ability to project a favorable image of the profession
Please Note:
After you are added to our Partner Teacher Roster:
- The UPE Field Experience team will connect with a number of times throughout the year. When you are serving as a Partner Teacher, you will also be in regular contact with the Field Instructor allocated to your pre-service teacher.
Key dates:
- If we have matched you with a Field Experience III/IV pre-service teacher, we will let you know in October.
- If we have matched you with a pair of Field Experience II pre-service teachers, we will let you know in February.
Placement Policies to note:
- Our placements require the full support of the Partner Teacher, School Principal and School Board.
- Not all teachers are matched with a pre-service teacher. We are not always able to find a suitable match for all our placements and partner teachers. Please know we will do our very best – we are very thankful so many Partner Teachers are interested in mentoring a pre-service teacher from the Werklund School of Education.
Connect with the UPE Field Experience Team