Cooperating Teachers

Research indicates that the single most important individual in the student teaching process is the Cooperating Teacher who provides the support, mentorship, professional expertise, classroom stability and setting necessary for a successful student teaching experience. Much of this success depends upon the development of a nurturing and productive relationship between the Cooperating Teacher and the student teacher. By serving in this capacity, the Cooperating Teacher is also sharing the professional responsibility of preparing the next generation of teachers for schools, particularly in urban settings.

As a partner with the Lehman College School of Education, Cooperating Teachers will be required to evaluate the student teacher twice in the student teaching experience. In addition, a Lehman College supervisor will consult with the Cooperating Teacher and observe the student teacher during each placement. Further information, including Lehman College’s School of Education philosophy, policies, and procedures concerning student teaching and supervision of student teachers is included in our handbook. It also provides expected candidate outcomes, overview of mentoring, modeling and the importance of evaluation during the student teaching experience.

Become a Cooperating Teacher

Lehman College's School of Education places student teachers in early childhood, elementary, middle and high school, and special education schools/classrooms each semester. Student teachers work at each placement full-time for a total of 14 weeks per semester. Some content areas require two different grade experiences, so candidates split classroom time into a 10-weeks and 4-weeks.
 
Cooperating Teachers may remember their own student teaching experience as one of the greatest influences – for good or bad! – on their practice as a teacher. Lehman is searching for extraordinary teachers to serve as role models and mentors for our student teachers through this critical period. 
 
We are looking for individuals who have completed three (3) years of successful teaching and are:

1. Willing to commit time and energy to host a student teacher, including sharing some instructional time with the student teacher;
2. Excellent instructors who have shown success in the following areas, resulting in satisfactory growth in their students’ performance:
   • planning
   • assessment
   • classroom management
   • implementation of instruction
3. Strong mentors with skills and experience in the following areas of communication/human relations:
   •  observing
   • providing feedback
   • holding professional conversations
   • working in a collaborative environment
4. NYS certified in the discipline you are teaching.
5. Willing to complete two observation evaluations (aligned with components from the Danielson Framework).

If you would like to be considered for a cooperating teacher position, fill out this quick and easy Cooperating Teacher form to express your interest. We will need to follow-up for approval from your Principal or Administrative Liaison. Please be aware that completion of the application does not guarantee you will receive a student teacher. Placement decisions are based on the number of student teachers available each semester and their individual needs. If you would like more information before completing the application, please email Leslie Lieman, Director, Clinical Practice & Partnerships: leslie.lieman@lehman.cuny.edu

Policy on the Cooperating Teacher Tuition Waiver

A perk of working with a student teacher includes a 3-credit CUNY waiver for every 10+ weeks of supervision. A minimum of 10 weeks (full-time) or a total of 360 hours of supervising/mentoring a Lehman College student teacher or student in practicum is required for a cooperating teacher to earn a 3-credit tuition waiver. A 1-credit waiver may be issued to a cooperating teacher who works with one student teacher for a 4-week (full-time) placement. The tuition waiver must be used within one year from the date the waiver is issued. To be eligible Cooperating Teachers must have submitted the required Cooperating Teacher Feedback Forms to student teacher, which will be reviewed before a Tuition Waiver is issued. 

• STEP 1: Complete the online Cooperating Teacher Tuition Waiver Application Form
• STEP 2: Complete the fillable PDF Bursar Waiver Application
• STEP 3: Resume (only for first time applicants)
• STEP 4: Email Bursar Waiver App (#2) and Resume (#3 if needed) in one email to clinical.practice@lehman.cuny.edu
  • Email subject line: Your name + Tuition Waiver Request + School
• Upon completion of Steps 1 - 4 above, the Tuition Waiver will be emailed back after the end of the semester. Cooperating Teachers can register for courses and then will need to contact the Bursar’s Office about how/where to submit and sign. Each CUNY campus may handle the waivers differently.

About CUNY Tuition Waivers:

1. Credits must be used within 1 year (semesters written on waiver).
2. Each waiver is for a maximum of 3 credits, and only two waivers (6 credits) can be used per semester.
3. Credits can only be awarded after student teacher has submitted your Cooperating Teacher Feedback forms to her/his assignment account.
4. A CUNY total/maximum of 18 course credit/tuition waivers is allowed per person.
5. After Tuition Wavier document is sent by email, all follow-up happens directly with the CUNY college’s Bursar's Office.
6. Tuition waivers cannot be replaced.
7. Full details about the CUNY tuition waiver for Cooperating Teachers is described in CUNY’s University Tuition and Fee Manual, under Special Programs.

Interested in using your Tuition Waiver credits at Lehman College?

Explore the Lehman College department directory!

Some Cooperating Teachers pursue additional degrees in

• Educational Leadership (School Building Leaders) and Organizational Leadership
• Counselor Education
• Social Work

Others pursue School of Education advanced certificates or extensions, including but not limited to:

• TESOL / ENL
• Advanced Certificates in Special Education
• Bilingual Extensions

Tuition Waiver credits can be used at any CUNY institution (only one waiver can be applied each semester).

Cooperating Teacher Resources

Interested in continuing your professional learning? Lehman College Education Librarian, Alison Lehner-Quam, created a library guide (Cooperating Teacher Resources) that includes freely available databases and resources relevant for practicing teachers. Need assistance or have suggestions or request? Contact Alison at alison.lehnerquam@lehman.cuny.edu and let her know your role with mentoring our student teacher(s)!

The resources include:

• Databases and search engines with access to scholarly articles;
• Versions of articles that scholars have placed in Institutional repositories. These articles may not include the final edits that a publisher has given an article, but the content is basically the same. CUNY Academic Works is an example of such a repository. Articles from institutional repositories can also be found in Google Scholar. Look for URLs that end in .edu or have the name of a college/university in the URL for these articles;
• New York State NOVEL databases which provides access to GALE databases;
• New York Schools Library has a professional development collection of eBooks that can be accessed with a DOE login; and
• New York Public Library has numerous databases that can be accessed with an NYPL library card.

This guide will continue to be developed, so continue to visit.

Direct URL: https://libguides.lehman.edu/CooperatingTeacherResources

Cooperating Teacher Handbook v4