Field Experience Supervisor

Duties:

The Faculty of Education educates pre-service teachers who will be distinguished by excellence in the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to be responsible educators. Our collective values are intended to encourage and support the development of competent, caring, and effective beginning teachers.

Practical field experiences are essential elements for pre-service teachers during their Bachelor of Education program. It is a time during which professional attitudes and instructional approaches are formed. In the practicum experiences, pre-service teachers will be expected to develop a personal teaching style, to implement planned curriculum, and assess student learning.

The Field Experience Supervisor acts as the instructor for field experience courses in the Bachelor of Education program and the Post-Baccalaureate Bachelor of Education program. The Field Experience Supervisor will be responsible for:

• Connecting with mentor teachers prior to the practicum to review program expectations.
• Providing support to the pre-service teacher and the mentor teacher.
• Reviewing and signing the teaching Phase-In form completed by the pre-service teacher, ensuring teaching load and responsibilities meet requirements for practicum requirements as defined by the VIU Field Experience Office.
• Reviewing the overall planning Framework and specific lesson preparation completed by the pre-service teacher.
• Meeting with the mentor teacher and pre-service teacher to discuss general concerns, roles, and expectations.
• Observing and discussing teaching performance with the pre-service teacher on a regular basis.
• Conducting at least one formal observation for classroom lessons taught in each field experience week and providing feedback regularly.
• Facilitating discussions with pre-service teachers regarding their reflections about the field experience.
• Coordinating mid and final pre-service teacher self-evaluation conferences.
• Organizing and facilitating summative evaluation of the practicum.
• Writing a formal summative report at the end of the practicum in consultation with the mentor teacher and the pre-service teacher.
• Meeting with the mentor teacher(s) and the school administrator if there are possible concerns.
• Communicating with Field Experience Office as necessary, especially if there are practicum concerns, and following processes outlined in the Field Experience Handbook.
• Working with the mentor teacher and pre-service teacher and Field Experience Chair to create an Action Plan, if needed.
• Completing all required documentation using Faculty of Education and VIU processes and submitting to the Field Experience Office.

Field experience supervisors also participate in program and faculty meetings, liaise with support staff, other staff and faculty. Vancouver Island University places an emphasis on teaching excellence and also encourages scholarly activity and community involvement.

This position may require travel to a variety of practice settings on Vancouver Island.

Candidates must demonstrate commitment to teaching, learning and student success through scholarship and institutional service. Successful candidates will participate in a wide range of activities outside the classroom, including student support; institutional, faculty and departmental committee meetings and other initiatives; and professional activities in keeping with their disciplines in and outside the institution.

Required Qualifications:

Masters degree in Education or related area or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Recent teaching (within 5 years) and/or administrative experience within the BC K-12 school system. BC Teaching Certification or equivalent. Awareness of BC Teacher Education Program Approval Standards, Professional Standards for BC Educators, and expectations for field experience.

• Knowledge of current BC K-12 school contexts.
• Familiarity with current BC Ministry of Education and Child Care initiatives in areas such as curriculum, assessment and reporting, and Indigenous education.
• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to facilitate coaching and/or challenging conversations.
• Willingness and ability to function in a team setting.
• Commitment to the development of students as teachers.
• Responsiveness to diverse cultural and academic backgrounds, including Indigenous cultures.
• Ability to use necessary technologies such as online forms, Microsoft 365 and VIU's course management system.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A doctorate degree in relevant field (ie., Teacher Education, Educational Leadership).
• Familiarity with Vancouver Island University Faculty of Education undergraduate programs.
• Familiarity with incorporating First Peoples Principles of Learning.
• Established relationships and connections with local school districts and schools.

Note:

• Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
• All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
• Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students. In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences. We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter. When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity. Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.