Candidate Support Team

• Mentor teachers work with traditional student teachers. 

• Support teachers support interns and permit teachers. 

Both mentor and support teachers: 

• Participate in the final evaluation of the candidate. 

• Can provide candidates with CalTPA support. 

• Model teaching & provide opportunities for candidates to teach foundational literacy skills and to practice diagnostic and early intervention techniques (see TPE 7).

Note: Candidates are expected to take & pass a commission-approved literacy performance assessment that includes a focus on foundational literacy skills & the additional cross cutting themes in literacy.

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The support teacher is the primary contact for support and provides some of the 5 hours per week of support. Additional school personnel provide weekly support & the candidate is responsible for documenting support on their weekly logs for Dominican. 

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Mentor teachers provide daily oversight & a minimum of 5 hours per week of support on meeting TPEs (during supervised teaching semester/spring). Mentor teachers are expected to be present and remain available for support when candidates are teaching in their classrooms, even during a candidate's solo teaching weeks.  

Mentor teachers receive a $400 stipend (26-27 rate) & may also request CEUs (1.5 Units per placement). 

Note: begin the request for CEUs by completing this form & sending to the program director. 

26-27 Program Directors

Elizabeth.Truesdell@dominican.edu (Education Specialist Program)

Rebecca.Birch@dominican.edu (Single Subject Program)

Katherine.Lewis@dominican.edu (Multiple Subject Program)

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*Please read the Introduction Letter to begin your orientation to the DU programs. *

• During fall semesters, all mentor & support teachers should complete the Support Team Qualification Form & Initial Orientation. 

• Prior to returning in spring, *NEW* mentor teachers provide PD waivers. If PD support is needed, NEW mentor teachers are invited to complete asynchronous modules. 

*Notes: 

Mentor teachers are considered "new" when they have not mentored CA teacher candidates within the last five years.

Support Teachers and Supervisors do not need to submit PD waivers or complete PD modules.

University or Site-Based Supervisors can either be hired by the University or work at the school site.  

Supervisors: 

• Coordinate with candidate, mentor/support teacher, and school site administrator (when necessary). 

• Complete observation cycle of the practice lesson (preparation semester- Fall).

• Lead weekly observations during the Supervised Teaching Seminar (Spring), which entails a minimum of 12 meetings & 10 formal observations, as well as progress monitoring and final evaluation of the credential candidate. 

• Can also provide candidates with CalTPA support.

Please read the Introduction Letter for links to the support form & initial orientation. 

The School Principal approves placements and coordinates with the mentor/support teachers and supervisors as necessary.

Please complete school site administrator form. 

The Content Coach (Single Subject only) - provides support specific to single subject content areas. During student/intern teaching, single subject candidates are required to take Pedagogical Preparation II (EDU 5255) and are assigned to a content coach to provide support specific to the candidates' content area. Instructors provide a list of previous coaches if students need assistance identifying a content coach.

All content coaches are required to complete the Support Team Member Form. 

Content coaches teachers receive a $200 stipend (26-27 rate) & may also request CEUs (1.5 units). 

Note: begin the request for CEUs by completing this form & sending to the Single Subject program director.