Position Description
School of Education and Human Development
I.
Title:
Educator Preparation Placement and Certification Coordinator
Department: Director’s Office, SEHD
Reports to:
Director of Educator Preparation
Supervises:
N/A
Coordinates with:
II.
All educator preparation programs within the University to coordinate
field placement and internships and coordinating certification process by
working with peers in partnership schools and collaborating agencies and
field placement organizations/businesses, national and state
accreditation/approval and credentialing agencies, and higher education
institutions.
Statement of the Job:
The Educator Preparation Placement and Certification Coordinator is responsible for assisting with,
managing and coordinating field experience placements for practicum and internship students in USM
educator preparation programs and for serving as the University certification coordinator by conveying
certification recommendations for in-state educator preparation program graduates. The job includes
responsibility for maintaining contact with practicum/internship sites, cataloguing practicum/ internship
site data and establishing protocols, guidelines, and procedures for uniform field placement operations.
This position is responsible for coordinating all field placements for counseling students, school
psychology, teacher preparation, and educational leadership internships, and providing for mentor and
supervisor training and professional development.
The Placement and Certification Coordinator also serves as certification officer for in-state and out-ofstate initial teacher certification and coordinates University Title II responsibilities for state and federal
teacher education reporting requirements. She/he is responsible for data collection and analysis that
contributes to systemic program reports, and assisting with other program-related activities including but
not limited to consultation and coordination with all educator preparation program and collaborating
agencies.
III.
Essential Functions:
Placement Coordinator:
Establish practicum/internship sites for all school, mental health, and rehabilitation counseling students.
Establish field experience and internship placements for teacher preparation programs.
Establish internship placements for Educational Leadership program.
Coordinate the assignments of mentor teachers and supervising teachers in teacher education programs.
Maintain and update all legal contracts for placements and makes sure all parties comply with
agreements.
Serve as liaison between faculty and all agency/school internship/partnership sites.
Develop and revise database with current roster of placement and internship locations used for
practicum/internship placement queries to be used as a comprehensive site directory of placement
locations.
Maintain qualifications (inclusive of credentials and trainings) of site supervisors to determine minimum
supervision requirements.
Upon recommendation of faculty, meet with students who have been deemed appropriate for internship
experiences and place them into appropriate sites. Coordinate site selection, as a result of faculty/student
negotiation, with existing site supervisors.
Document internship hours for all students. Establish data collection procedures and database for
recording and reporting hours.
Develop, maintain, and regularly update all handbooks/materials relevant to field-based practicum and
student internship activities (in coordination with program support staff).
Develop, distribute, collect, and maintain results of evaluations of field placement experiences.
Oversee placement coordination and activities within the counseling lab.
Attend and participate in program, school, college and university meetings as required.
Provide leadership in establishing and maintaining high quality field placement, mentoring, and
supervision practices.
Manage any catalogue revisions related to field placements or internships.
Recommend (to academic programs) policies and procedures that streamline field placement operations.
Certification Coordinator Responsibilities:
Serve as University certification coordinator by conveying certification recommendations for in-state
educator preparation program graduates in the School of Education and Human Development; College
of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Science, Technology, and Health, and LewistonAuburn College.
Conduct transcript analyses to ensure that all program and certification requirements have been met.
Coordinate University Title II processes for state and federal teacher education reporting requirements.
Establish and maintain effective processes for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data related to
applications, admissions, retention, completion, and graduation of teacher education students.
IV. Marginal Functions:
Additional duties as reasonably assigned.
V. Supervision:
N/A
VI.
Budget Responsibilities:
The Placement and Certification Coordinator is responsible for coordinating with the Director of
Educator Preparation and finance staff to assure that budgets developed to support field placements and
internships are managed in accordance with defined practices and procedures and balanced annually.
VII. Public and Professional Activities Related to Job Performance:
The Placement and Certification Coordinator is expected to be up-to-date on current issues and policies
relative to student services, academic affairs, communication, and field placement and school
partnership relationships, and the University in general through attendance at relevant meetings,
workshops, conferences, seminars, and professional training sessions.
VIII. Internal and External Activities:
This position requires contact with internal and external constituents to fulfill the key initiatives which
are to support the enhancement of educator preparation at the University, and the communication and
administrative operations of the Director of Educator Preparation and the Center for Educator
Preparation to current and potential students, state-wide educators and policymakers, national and
international affiliates, and the general public.
IX.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
1. Ability to work independently, making effective decisions quickly and resolutely.
2. Ability to work collaboratively in a team oriented office.
3. Knowledge and application of management skills including planning, prioritizing, implementing and
evaluating.
4. Ability to maintain confidentiality and use discretion.
5. Ability to work effectively with individuals of all professions, ranks and personalities.
6. Ability to use technology effectively, including skill in the use of databases and accountability
models.
7. Ability to think globally and apply experiences in a creative and strategic manner.
8. Ability to manage multiple projects with attention to detail and accuracy.
9. Comprehensive and effective writing and verbal communication skills
10. Ability to keep up-to-date records and develop user-friendly and informative reports and information
sheets.
X. Qualifications:
Required: Baccalaureate degree plus a minimum of three years of experience working in an academic
unit in an institution of higher education or in K-12 education.
Preferred: Masters degree in Education, Counseling, or Human Development field.