Student Teaching Application & Information

Applications for student teaching are due:

February 1 for fall student teaching
August 1 for spring student teaching

Student Teaching Placement Restrictions

Applicants are allowed to suggest/request two possible placements, realizing that these requests may or may not be fulfilled. Students should not request, nor will they be placed, in a district or school where relatives attend or work. Exceptions to this policy may be made if a district offers a student teacher a job as the teacher of record during their student teaching semester.

Certification Exam

It is required to attempt the appropriate Praxis exam(s) the semester prior to student teaching. Documentation of Praxis completion or registration, showing the testing date, is a required part of the student teaching application. Refer to the Praxis website to be sure you are registered for the correct exam. Student teaching placements are not finalized until a score is verified by the School of Education and Child Development. Questions about which exam to take should be directed to Ali Geren, Assessment Coordinator: ageren@drury.edu. Candidates who took and passed the MOCA prior to June 23, 2024 can provide their MOCA scores in lieu of their Praxis registration and/or score(s).

Missouri Content Substitute Certificate

All students applying for student teaching must have a current Missouri Content Substitute Certificate. Complete instructions for obtaining a Missouri Content Substitute Certificate are provided on the DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) website. Obtaining a substitute certificate will require you to submit transcripts from all universities attended, as well as complete FBI fingerprinting. This process can take several weeks.

Fees

Students enrolled in EDUC 476, EDUC 477 or EDUC 478 are assessed a $250 student teaching fee. This fee supports necessary cooperating teacher and university supervisor assignments. An additional $200 fee will be assessed for out-of-area student teaching.

Contact

Sherri Peterson, Coordinator of Field Experiences (Springfield)
Sherri Peterson is the central contact in the School of Education and Child Development (SECD) at Drury University for students and school personnel who have questions about the status of a student teaching or practicum placement. Mrs. Peterson works with designated faculty in the School of Education and Child Development to identify high quality instructional settings in area schools for DU Education Majors preparing to be teachers. To contact Mrs. Peterson, please call her at (417) 873-6685 or e-mail at speterson008@drury.edu.

Student Teaching Placement Restrictions

Applicants are allowed to suggest/request two possible placements, realizing that these requests may or may not be fulfilled. In order to ensure a diverse clinical experience, applicants should not request to be placed in a school where a previous practicum was completed. Students are generally not placed in a school where they graduated or where relatives work. Exceptions to this policy may be made for district procedures involving employment following the student teaching semester. Approval is required by the Dean of Education for all exceptions.

Student Teachers and Cooperating Teachers