Field placements are coordinated by the Office of Field Experiences in collaboration with our school and community partners. Placements are made based on course and program requirements, student needs, availability, and the requirements of our partner schools and districts. Teacher candidates should not independently arrange or confirm their own field placements unless directed to do so by the course instructor.

Your instructor of record will communicate field placement information and instructions to you. Once your placement has been confirmed, your instructor will provide you with the details you need to prepare for your experience, including information about your assigned school and placement expectations.

Your instructor of record should be your first point of contact for questions or concerns related to your field placement. They can provide guidance, clarify expectations, and determine whether additional support from the Office of Field Experiences is needed. If your concern involves an immediate issue at your placement site, communicate with your instructor of record as soon as possible.

If you are unable to attend your scheduled field placement, you should follow the absence procedures established in the related field course Handbook. Following these procedures, you may also be required to notify your cooperating teacher or other designated school contact. Field placement absences typically need to be made up to fulfill course and state requirements.

Yes. While participating in a field placement, you are expected to follow all applicable policies, procedures, and expectations established by your assigned school and district. This includes expectations related to attendance, punctuality, professional conduct, confidentiality, technology use, dress, safety, and interactions with students and staff. Your field placement is an opportunity to learn and participate as a professional member of the school community.

If you are unsure about a policy or procedure, ask your cooperating teacher or designated school contact for clarification. You should also communicate with your instructor of record if you have questions or concerns about how a policy applies to your role as a teacher candidate. When in doubt, seek clarification before taking action.

Once your placement has been confirmed and your instructor of record has provided you with instructions, you may communicate with your designated school contact as appropriate. However, teacher candidates should not independently contact schools to arrange or secure placements. Questions about placement assignments, changes, or concerns should first be addressed with your course instructor.

Your safety and comfort are a primary concern of our office and the School of Education. If you experience a problem or have a concern at your placement, communicate with your instructor of record promptly. Your instructor can help you determine the appropriate next steps and, when necessary, coordinate with the Office of Field Experiences. Do not wait until the end of the semester to report a concern. Early communication allows concerns to be addressed as quickly and appropriately as possible.

Occasionally, a placement may need to be changed or canceled due to circumstances at the school or district, staffing changes, scheduling conflicts, or other factors outside of the university’s control. If a change is necessary, the Office of Field Experiences and your instructor of record will work together to determine the appropriate next steps. Teacher candidates should not attempt to secure a replacement placement independently. Any new placement must be coordinated through the appropriate university process. Please see your individual course Handbook for additional information about consequences that may occur if you are asked not to return to a placement.

Student Teaching preparation begins the year before your student teaching semester. The Office of Field Experiences will track your progress over the course of the next year to ensure you meet eligibility requirements. If you anticipate student teaching during the spring or fall semester, you will be required to attend the Student Teaching Application Meeting held at the beginning of the semester one year prior to your student teaching semester. Example: You are Student Teaching during Fall 2027 and are required to participate in the application meeting and subsequent Career Design Center offerings during Fall 2026. All students will receive a Save-the-date email from the Office of Field Experiences on the first day of classes, only those eligible to Student Teach the following year should attend.

Teacher candidates must meet all eligibility requirements established by their academic program and the School of Education before beginning student teaching. Requirements may include completion of prerequisite coursework, academic requirements, certification-related requirements, and required trainings or workshops. Teacher candidates should regularly review their program requirements and communicate with their academic advisor or the appropriate office if they have questions about their eligibility. The Office of Field Experiences will conduct individual audits of student progress to ensure they have met the eligibility requirements. Any outstanding requirements will be communicated with the teacher candidate and their respective advisor via email. It is the individual candidate’s responsibility to ensure eligibility and monitor their own progress.

If you have not completed an eligibility requirement, contact your academic advisor and the Office of Field Experiences as soon as possible. Depending on the requirement, you may need to complete the requirement before beginning student teaching and follow an approved plan to address the outstanding requirement. The Student Teaching Appeals Process will be shared with students who have missing requirements. This is a time-sensitive process. If, after reviewing the Student Teaching Handbook, you have questions about your student teaching eligibility, please reach out to our office.

Student teaching placements are coordinated by the Office of Field Experiences in collaboration with our school and district partners. Placements are made based on program requirements, certification needs, availability, and the goal of providing each teacher candidate with a meaningful and supportive experience. While we consider student preferences whenever possible, we cannot guarantee placement in a specific school, district, or classroom. It is important to note that our office begins seeking and securing placements approximately 5 months before the start of the student teaching semester, so it is imperative that candidates complete all required steps within the established timelines. Unless an out-of-area program has been approved, all placements will be made within a 50-mile radius of the SUNY Geneseo campus.

SUNY colleges typically enforce a 50-mile radius for student teaching placements to ensure adequate college supervision, leverage established relationships with local school districts, and comply with New York State certification regulations. The 50-mile limit helps ensure that college supervisors can visit, observe, and guide students efficiently. Note: Some institutions have slightly varying rules, such as specific local areas, but the 50-mile standard is common for ensuring sufficient supervision resources.

Teacher candidates may share placement preferences with the Office of Field Experiences. There is a place to indicate your preferences on the student teaching application. We will consider requests when possible. Candidates should not make requests for specific schools or host teachers. Placements depend on the existence of current partnerships, availability of qualified host teachers, and approval of school and district administration. Per Geneseo policy, students may not student teach in a district they previously attended or in a district in which a close relative is employed.

In some cases, when a professional relationship has been established through prior field placement partnerships, both the teacher and the candidate may determine that they would like to work together for this capstone experience. Candidates may share the request form link (found under Forms for Student Teaching) with individual teachers to complete. Forms must be completed by the host teacher, not the candidate, and all placements are subject to approval and confirmation at the school and district level. While we make every attempt to accommodate teacher requests, all placements must meet policy criteria, and no placements can be guaranteed.

SUNY Geneseo’s policy prohibits student teaching at a school a candidate previously attended– known as their “alma mater”– to ensure a professional, objective, and transformative experience. This policy is designed to foster growth and avoid conflicts of interest, adhering to state regulations regarding diverse clinical experiences.

To ensure that placements meet SUNY Geneseo, program, certification, and school district requirements, all student teaching placements are coordinated through the Office of Field Experiences. This process also helps maintain strong partnerships with our school districts while fulfilling the promise of breadth, depth, and diversity of placements and ensures that teacher candidates are placed in appropriate settings with qualified cooperating teachers.

Placement timelines vary by program and semester. The Office of Field Experiences works diligently to confirm placements as early as possible. Some placements may take longer to finalize due to district processes, availability, or required approvals. Once your placement has been confirmed, you will receive information via email (stuteach@geneseo.edu) about your school, cooperating teacher, and other important placement details.

The placement confirmation email will provide instructions for next steps. It is the student’s responsibility to contact their School Based Teacher Educator (SBTE) within the prescribed amount of time indicated in the confirmation email regardless of the scheduled start date for the placement. These introductory emails are the first opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their professionalism and their dedication to the student teaching experience.

An SBTE is a School Based Teacher Educator (your host or cooperating teacher in the field). We use SBTE as these individuals are an integral part of your field-based learning, more than a host. Your SBTE will be responsible for providing you with ongoing feedback throughout your placement as well as formally observing and evaluating your progress. Questions you have regarding student teaching assignments should be directed to your UBTE.

A UBTE is your University Based Teacher Educator or University Supervisor who will be working alongside you throughout your student teaching experience. In addition to observing and coaching you in the classroom, they will be responsible for evaluating and providing feedback on additional student teaching assignments throughout the quarter. UBTE’s are assigned through our office close to the beginning of the semester and will reach out directly to you via email ppriorrior to the kick off conference.

Your first day is an opportunity to become familiar with your school, classroom, students, cooperating teacher, and school community. You may spend time observing classroom routines, learning about school policies and procedures, reviewing expectations with your cooperating teacher, and getting to know your students. You are not be expected to begin planning and teaching immediately, but are encouraged to take on any roles and responsibilities that you and your SBTE feel are appropriate. Every placement is different, and your UBTE and SBTE will help you gradually transition into your teaching responsibilities.

Student teachers are expected to approach their placement as professional members of the school community. This includes arriving on time, being prepared, maintaining professional communication and conduct, following school and district policies, actively participating in the classroom, responding to feedback, and demonstrating a commitment to learning and professional growth. Your student teaching experience is an opportunity to develop your teaching practice while working collaboratively with your cooperating teacher and college supervisor. A syllabus is developed for each individual student teaching course. All assignments and associated rubrics can be reviewed when course information is released to you. Brightspace is used for managing student teaching syllabi, resources, and announcements.

The frequency of observations depends on your academic program and student teaching requirements. Your college supervisor will communicate the observation schedule and expectations with you. Observations are designed to provide you with constructive feedback and support as you develop your teaching practice.

If you are unable to attend your placement, you should follow the absence procedures established by your school or district and notify your SBTE and UBTE as soon as possible. You should also follow any additional procedures provided by the Office of Field Experiences. Please visit the Forms for Student Teaching page to access the Request for Absence from Student Teaching form. Throughout student teaching, candidates do not have personal days. Remember that student teaching is a professional commitment with specific certification requirements, and absences may need to be made up.

Teacher candidates should follow the calendar and daily schedule of their assigned school district during their field placement or student teaching experience. This may differ from the SUNY Geneseo academic calendar. Teacher candidates should discuss school holidays, breaks, professional development days, and other schedule differences with their SBTE and UBTE. It is generally expected that student teachers will attend all teaching and professional days with their SBTE. Excluding coaching and supplemental contract activities, student teachers should make every attempt to mirror their SBTE’s schedule.

Your safety and comfort are a primary concern of our office and the School of Education. If you have a concern about your placement, we encourage you to address it early rather than waiting for the situation to escalate. When appropriate, begin by communicating directly with your SBTE and UBTE. You may also contact the Office of Field Experiences for guidance and support. Our goal is to work collaboratively with you and our school partners to address concerns and support a successful experience.

It is normal to experience challenges as you learn to navigate the classroom and develop your teaching practice. Varying levels of productive struggle are a critical element of this experience; however, if you feel you are struggling more than expected, communicate with your SBTE and UBTE as soon as possible. They are there to provide feedback, guidance, and support. The earlier a concern is identified, the more opportunities there are to develop a plan and provide additional support. Your student teaching experience and associated evaluations will always prioritize growth and progress over polish and perfection.

Requirements vary by academic program and placement. Teacher candidates will be responsible for completing lesson plans, observations, reflections, evaluations, assessments, field experience documentation, and other program-specific assignments. Your program syllabi and UBTE will provide information about required assignments, deadlines, and submission procedures. Be sure to review all instructions carefully and reach out to your UBTE if you are unsure about a requirement.

The Office of Field Experiences is here to support you throughout your field practicum and student teaching experience. If you have a question that is not addressed in these FAQs, please reach out to us directly at stuteach@geneseo.edu. Depending on your question, we can connect you with the appropriate person or office for additional support.