Directions for Completing the Student Teaching Application
1. The student teaching application is as important as an application for a teaching position. Principals and school
administrators are not obligated to accept student teachers. Your application must show school officials that you are
prepared for the professional responsibility of a student teaching placement. It is possible that you will also be
interviewed by a principal or cooperating teacher before your student teaching placement is finalized.
2. Electronic applications via Tk20 are due by the first Friday of the spring semester, prior to the academic year in which
you plan to student teach. You may complete the electronic application on your own, without advisor approval. Late
applications are not accepted.
3. Paper applications for student teaching are due in January prior to the academic year in which you plan to student
teach. You may submit your application any time after the first Tuesday of the spring term. Deadlines are the third
Wednesday of January for last names A-M and the fourth Wednesday of January for last names N-Z. You must have
been admitted to teacher education, have a 2.75 overall GPA and a 2.75 GPA in all teaching majors and teaching
minors, and have advisor approval before you can submit your paper application for student teaching. Late applications
are not accepted.
4. Make an appointment with your academic advisor well before the due date of the paper application. Your advisor must
review and approve your application before you submit it. After your advisor has reviewed and signed, print one copy of
pages A and B, three copies of pages 1 and 2, and three copies of your one-page essay responses. Your application
will be signed by the Director of Advanced Clinical Experience and Co-Teaching before it is sent to schools.
5. To submit your paper application, you must meet with Mrs. Nancy Martin between 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday. You must see her in person. Allow 10-15 minutes for this meeting. Once your student teaching
application has been accepted by Mrs. Martin, you will not be allowed to change your request for placement location.
6. Essay responses: Follow the directions for the prompts carefully. Emphasize your experiences that have shaped the
kind of teacher you will become. Be sure your statements are positive and engaging. Do not share negative
experiences you have had as a student or as an observer in schools. Your essays should communicate your
personality and your philosophy about teaching.
7. On page 2, you must list abbreviated titles and course numbers for the courses that you have taken or will be taking.
List the Core courses in the left column. List the courses in your major and minor areas in the right column. Be sure to
complete the “Grade Earned or Term of Enrollment” box. Indicate any transfer courses by including a “T” next to the
grade you earned in the course. ( example T-A) This would indicate the course credit was transferred to USI from
another institution and you earned a grade of “A” for the course.
8. You must have a national criminal background check from Certified Background (not more than 5 years old) before you
can submit your paper application. You must also complete a Consent and Disclosure Form on Tk20 at the beginning of
each academic year. More information about this is available in the Teacher Education office.
9. Additional considerations: Occasionally, students get near the end of their program and think they can “cram” in a lot of
extra hours to get finished. This is not a good idea or a recommended practice. If your records show that you have an
unusual number of courses in progress or pending, your placement may be put on hold until you have completed more
hours toward your degree. Likewise, if you have any grade lower than a C or an Incomplete in a course required
for the degree, you will not be placed for student teaching or be eligible to begin student teaching until these
issues are resolved.