Student Observer - Spring 2026

As a new member of a professional community, student teachers assume a variety of professional obligations and responsibilities. 

Student teachers should fulfill the following responsibilities:

At their first opportunity, student teachers should obtain a copy of the Faculty Handbook and acquaint themselves with the procedures, rules, and regulations that apply to the faculty of the school in which they are working.  In addition, student teachers should also familiarize themselves with other official documents (e.g., calendar).

In particular, it is expected that student teachers:

• behave as professionals (i.e., in word, action, dress, appearance, etc.)

• exhibit promptness and punctuality in meeting one's responsibilities and obligations

• recognize and act congruently with their new status (i.e., they are not their students' peers)

• seek advice from their cooperating educator and university/program supervisor on a regular and routine basis

For their part, students respect teachers who are honest, well-prepared, consistent, fair, and firm. As student teachers serve as role models for their students, they will exhibit good manners, habits, and behavior, presenting the best possible image to the youth with whom they are working.

As the primary purpose of student teaching is to begin learning how to teach, student teachers focus primarily on instructional matters.  Student teachers accomplish this  as they fulfill their instructional responsibilities.  These include:

• preparing complete and concise daily lesson plans

• applying teaching techniques based on sound learning principles

• submitting and discussing lesson plans with the Cooperating Educator prior to presenting the lesson

• developing unit plans, when appropriate, and submitting and discussing them with the cooperating educator prior to presenting the unit

• complying with all reasonable requests made by the Cooperating Educator

• learning about their students

• making seating charts and learning their students' names

• maintaining ethical interpersonal relationships with their students

By fulfilling these primary responsibilities, student teachers become an integral part of the instructional staff at their respective schools and contribute to the educational programs in which they participate. In addition, student teachers also accept any and all responsibilities assigned and commensurate with the teaching role. Typically, these include:

• participating in in-service conferences and parent conferences

• attending meetings designated by the Cooperating Educator

• assisting with all routine school activities

• attending PTO meetings

• accepting supervisory duties (e.g., cafeteria duty, hall duty, etc.)

• participating in extra-curricular activities (e.g., coaching athletic teams, organizing/sponsoring field trips, involvement in plays and/or show, clubs, academic teams)

  By fulfilling these primary responsibilities, student teachers become an integral part of the instructional staff at their respective schools and contribute to the educational programs in which they participate.