All persons enrolled in a teacher education program in South Carolina must be advised that his or her prior criminal record could prevent certification as a teacher in the state of South Carolina in accordance with State Board of Education guidelines.

Prior to beginning full-time clinical teaching experience in this state, a teacher education candidate must undergo a state criminal records check by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and a national criminal records check supported by fingerprints by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The cost associated with the FBI background checks must be paid by the applicant. Any information reported relative to prior arrests or convictions will be reviewed by the State Department of Education, and the State Board of Education when warranted, in accordance with Board guidelines. Teacher education candidates with prior arrests or convictions of a serious nature that could affect their fitness to teach in the public schools of South Carolina may be denied the opportunity to complete the clinical teaching experience and to qualify for initial teacher certification. Those individuals who are denied this opportunity as a result of prior arrests or convictions may, after one year, request reconsideration, under guidelines established by the State Board of Education.

Graduates of teacher education programs applying for initial teacher certification must have completed the FBI fingerprint process within eighteen months of formally applying for initial teacher certification or the fingerprint process must be repeated.

REQUIRED PAPERWORK BEFORE STUDENT TEACHING

The items below are due to Ms. Gray in the Education Office

Student Teaching in Fall semester – the second Friday in November in the fall semester prior to student teaching.

Student Teaching in Spring semester – the second Friday in April in the spring semester prior to student teaching.

• Fingerprint card – Please go to the Security Office here on campus to get your fingerprints. You may want to call Keith Bagwell in Security #2060 to make an appointment.

• $75.00 Money order or cashiers check made out to the – SC Department of Education

• An Application for Educator Certificate – you will find this on the website: scteachers.org/cert/certpdf/newapp.pdf Use black ink to fill out the application.

• A copy of your social security card.

Please do not bring me one piece at a time. I will only accept all 4 pieces that have been paper clipped when you turn in your paperwork.

REMEMBER IF YOU DON’T TURN IN YOUR APPLICATION BEFORE THE DEADLINE STATED ABOVE, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STUDENT TEACH UNTIL THE FOLLOWING SEMESTER AND THE APPROPRIATE DEADLINE HAS BEEN MET. This is a policy of the South Carolina State Department of Education and not Anderson College.

If you have any questions about the application, please contact your advisor.

You will also need to print out a copy of the transcript request and have the registrar send this at the end of your student teaching. If you have attended other schools you will need to have them send the State Department of Education copies of your transcript.

The culmination of field and simulated teaching experiences is student teaching. The student teacher is considered an assistant teacher guided by a cooperating teacher who has at least three years of successful teaching experience and has been recommended by the school district specific guidelines must be followed by students participating in the student teaching program

• Student teaching must take place during a Spring or fall academic semester;

• Student teaching will consist of at least 70 days, not counting district holidays. Absences are not permitted but in an emergency, absences will be made up to assure 70 full days of student teaching. The college supervisor must be notified of any absences;

• Student teachers will follow the calendar of the school district and will be available to follow the entire schedule of the cooperating teacher, including bus duty, rehearsals, faculty meetings parent conferences extracurricular activities, etc.;

• Assignment of student teachers do not include activities or duties for which cooperating teachers receive an additional stipend;

• Student teachers will follow regular check in- procedures at the assigned school and will keep a personal record of attendance;

• Schools will hire substitute teachers when cooperating teachers are absent;

• Student teachers may not be paid employees in an instructional role during student teaching; and

• Student teachers are advised to dress neatly and appropriately and to follow the cooperating school’s guidelines for breaks, etc.

• Student teachers will attend regularly scheduled seminars and workshops required by the College.

• Student teachers will evaluate their college supervisors and their cooperating teachers at the end of the program and will participate in a post-student teaching conference with a college supervisor.

• After completing the Teacher Education Program, students are asked to sign an agreement allowing Anderson College to send an “Employer Evaluation of Anderson College Teacher Education Graduate” to their employers.

• College supervisors will visit and evaluate student teachers at least four (4) times during student teaching. Each visit will be documented and follow-up conferences will be held after each visit.

• College supervisors will collect on-site performance data on the performance of student teachers in each ADEPT Performance Standard on at least four (4) occasions throughout student teaching.

• If a serious problem or emergency arises which may negatively affect student teaching, the college supervisor should be notified immediately. If necessary, other steps may be taken, including notifying the Director of Teacher Education to determine appropriate action to take.

• After student teaching, each student should complete a data sheet and turn it in to the Career Placement Office to be placed in the student’s placement file.

• Student teachers must conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. If the student teacher has a concern or grievance, the college supervisor or Director of Teacher Education should be notified immediately.

Contact the
Education Division

Email: bgray@ac.edu
Phone: 864-262-2143