Students fulfill their practicum or student teaching requirements at their job sites. The practicum experiences are monitored by a cooperating teacher and university supervisor designated through the College of Education Field Placement office and in collaboration with the Pacific and Northwest Consortium for Vision Education (PNWCVE) state liaisons and community partners. Though candidates earn practicum and/or student teaching hours within their place of work, the goal is to gain access to as wide a range of experiences as possible. It is highly recommended that candidates working in local schools have an opportunity to observe and support children in a residential school for the blind or center-based agency. Likewise, candidates working in a residential school should seek opportunities to shadow an itinerant TSVI.
Students working as a paraeducator or instructional assistant in a special education setting with a TSVI, may be able to complete two practicum experiences on-the-job if:
The teacher onsite is a licensed TSVI, has at least three years experience, is approved by administrator to mentor, and is willing to support candidate;
The building principal and school district is supportive and willing to allow candidate the flexibility to have access to the types of experiences needed to meet practicum requirements (e.g. traveling to a few different schools to observe range of students, attending IEP meetings, etc.).
NOTE: Candidates will not be able to complete full time student teaching in a classified staff role and will likely need to take a leave of absence from their current position.
The same policy for classified staff applies to candidates who work as special educators, though endorsement students do not complete student teaching.
Candidates at a residential school for the blind or center-based agency can earn all or most of their hours within the school setting.
Candidates who work within one local school should seek administrative approval to have access to the types of experiences needed to meet practicum requirements. This typically involves travel off-site since most schools only serve one child with a visual impairment.
Candidates who work as provisionally licensed TSVIs can earn all or most of their hours serving the students on their caseload.
Practicum requiring placement is conducted in approved private and public schools and institutions educating students with visual impairments in the teacher. Approval of the setting is based on professional accreditation and the availability of a qualified person to serve as the cooperating teacher. For students seeking unique and intensive practicum experiences, placements can be arranged at specialized schools throughout the country. Most practicum and student teaching experiences in this category are non-paid.
The field placement coordinator for the Special Education Department, including the VIL program, is Andi Pearson. Her contact information is:
Phone: 503-725-5434
Email: apearson@pdx.edu