Bailey Graduate School of Education (BGSE) job-embedded practitioner program has several progression requirements, called Gateways, that candidates must reach in order to advance toward completion of the program. Program faculty are expected to meet with candidates and file a ProCADs Area for Refinement plan if a candidate fails to meet Gateway expectations. Click on the drop downs to get a closer look at each Gateway.
As a highly respected educator preparation program, BGSE has a competitive and selective admissions process. Given the enormity of responsibilities placed upon educators, multiple considerations—including both quantitative and qualitative factors—are considered in the holistic admissions process. Admission to teacher education is the first Gateway of the JEP program.
Applicants complete all required forms of the application process, including application to teacher education and application to the UTK Graduate School.
Applicants successfully complete all steps of the hiring process with a partnering school district, including a background clearance and intent to hire letter OR Applicants start the program prior to being hired as a teacher of record, and successfully complete the background clearance process through UTK.
Applicant GPA, Praxis scores and/or Majors in content area are verified.
Qualified applicants undergo UTK Admission Boards review.
Admissions Boards report the Admissions Decisions, Projected Licensure Area, and estimated date of program completion.
Candidates who have been hired as teachers of record complete TNCompass licensure process.
A Plan of Study is created for the applicant after admission to the JEP Program.
As the Job-Embedded Practitioner program is a close partnership between UTK and school districts, admissions to the program includes multiple requirements. Full details on application process found here: https://cehhsadvising.utk.edu/job-embedded-practitioner-licensure/
Following admission to a teacher education program, BGSE provides candidates with multiple coursework and clinical experiences to grow the skills and dispositions necessary for 21st-century teaching and learning. These experiences are outlined in the following Gateways.
Office of Professional Licensure verifies the JEPs TN Educator License Number (if applicable) and the establishment of two school or district-based Mentor Teachers
Programs verify the JEP professional responsibilities of being a mandatory reporter and maintaining professional liability insurance
The JEP has an established program of study
JEPs complete the Job-Embedded Practitioner Program Orientation that includes an introduction to the Professional Education Standards
**NOTE: Gateway #4 must also be completed at the end of the first semester of the JEP program
The JEP records all clinical supervision activities in the TIGER Tracker document
During the first semester of the JEP program, JEPs will complete the Job-Embedded Practitioner Program Orientation. This orientation includes:
Reviewing this Handbook in detail, and discussing any questions with the JEP advisor
Completing a training on the professional responsibilities of being a mandatory reporter
Acquiring and submitting proof of Professional Liability Insurance as requested by the program
Completing a Plan of Study with the UTK advisor, and working towards completing that plan
Note that Gateway 4 (the advising session that occurs each Fall and Spring semester) must also be completed by the end of the first semester of the JEP program
All JEPs are responsible for obtaining appropriate liability insurance. Many professional organizations partner with insurance companies to offer their members professional liability insurance at discounted rates. Click on the following link to see more information from the Office of School-Based Experiences on liability insurance.
Everyone in Tennessee is a mandatory reporter of child abuse and neglect, as specified by Tennessee Code:
Tennessee Code Annotated 37-1-403(a)(1) Any person who has knowledge of or is called upon to render aid to any child who is suffering from or has sustained any wound, injury, disability, or physical or mental condition shall report such harm immediately if the harm is of such a nature as to reasonably indicate that it has been caused by brutality, abuse, or neglect or that, on the basis of available information, reasonably appears to have been caused by brutality, abuse or neglect.
Tennessee Code Annotated 37-1-403(i)(1) Any school official, personnel, employee, or member of the Board of Education who is aware of a report or investigation of employee misconduct on the part of any employee of the school system that in any way involves known or alleged child abuse, including, but not limited to, child physical or sexual abuse or neglect, shall immediately upon knowledge of such information notify the Department of Children's Services or anyone listed in subdivision (a)(2) of the abuse or alleged abuse.
JEPs ensure that all first semester activities are located in the TIGER Tracker. Completion of the the TIGER Tracker will allow for the supervisor will allow for the mid-year conference/evaluations and successful completion of that will allow for program progression.
JEP must complete core courses SPED 503, EDPY 501, and ETEC 586
The JEP records all clinical supervision activities in the TIGER Tracker document
Failure to meet one or more of the above Gateway requirements will result in a ProCADs Support Plan for Professional Competencies. This Support Plan will outline the steps the JEP will need to take to achieve the requirements of this gateway the timeline for completion of these steps.
JEP Core Courses: Embedded within core courses there are required teacher licensure artifacts. Please make sure that you are successfully completing those courses so that you can progress through the JEP program.
JEPs ensure that all first semester activities are located in the TIGER Tracker. Completion of the the TIGER Tracker will allow for the supervisor will allow for the mid-year conference/evaluations and successful completion of that will allow for program progression.
Each fall and spring semester of the JEP program, the JEP will meet with their program advisor
The advisor verifies that the JEP is enrolled in courses appropriate to the course of study
The advisor verifies that the JEP is maintaining a 3.0 GPA
The advisor verifies that the JEP is making progress towards completing a minimum of 4 practicum experiences (this is when the JEP observes classrooms other than their own).
The advisor verifies that the JEP participates in required observations each semester as documented in the TIGER Tracker document.
The advisor verifies that ProCADs assessments are completed as documented in the TIGER Tracker.
During the advising session each Fall and Spring, the UTK Advisor will verify all elements of the above gateway. If acceptable progress is not verified for the JEP, the advisor will issue a ProCADs Support plan for the JEP.
The program confirms completion of all program requirements
The program confirms completion of required coursework
Office of Professional Licensure confirms completion of the Tiger Tracker document and all applicable Praxis exams
LEA enters experience verification to TNCompass
TNCompass status update completed by Office of Professional Licensure
Office of Professional Licensure confirms completion of any other additional licensure requirements, for example the Tennessee Literacy Success Act
At the completion of the JEP Program, Office of Professional Licensure will verify that all program requirements have been satisfactorily met. Many JEPs complete the teacher preparation program and Master’s degree at the same time.
JEPs who do not satisfactorily complete all UTK licensure program requirements within six months of graduation or licensure expiration will be designated as “no longer affiliated” with the UTK Teacher Preparation Program in TNCompass, thereby jeopardizing their eligibility to renew/advance their Tennessee license.
Verification of coursework completion, as required for both degree and licensure.
Verification of successful Praxis and summative pedagogical assessment completion. JEPs must pass and all required Praxis exams prior to completing the job embedded program. See TN state board policy 5.105 for required Praxis examinations. Remember that multiple licensure areas result in additional Praxis exam requirements.
TNCompass status update. Following completion of all program requirements, and verification of their satisfactory completion, UTK will designate JEPs as Completers in TNCompass. This will allow candidates to advance their teacher licensure upon completing two more years of teaching experience.
If candidates do not reach the above Gateway at the time of their practitioner licensure expiration, program faculty are expected to meet with the candidate and file a ProCADs support plan for professional competencies. This plan should include the components that need to be met and a timeline, not to exceed 60 days, for the completion of the lacking Gateway requirements. Candidates who do not meet all requirements of this final Gateway within 60 calendar days of their graduation will be marked “off-track” within the TNCompass licensure reporting system. Candidates who fail to achieve this Gateway within six months of licensure expiration will be designated as “no longer affiliated with the UTK Teacher Preparation Program” in TNCompass, thereby jeopardizing their Tennessee license.
Follow-Up to Program Completion
UTK wants to hear from Job-Embedded Practitioners following program completion! We value the input of the teachers who have progressed through our preparation programs, and we use this input to improve our preparation programs and the experiences of future JEPs. Former JEPs will receive survey invitations to evaluate multiple aspects of the program. We will ask them to complete these surveys to provide valuable information regarding our UTK supervisors, our mentor teachers, and our teacher preparation program requirements.
Additionally, we also look forward to having former UTK JEPs continue to be a part of the teacher preparation program and serve as mentor teachers when they have the experience and expertise to serve in this capacity. Links to our social media outlets below:
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