Office of Teacher Preparation
Tara McDaniel, Director of the Office of Teacher Preparation
Brandi Ripley, Administrative Assistant
Jessica Jennings, Assistant Director for Communications and Data Analysis
Amber Litchford, Assistant Director for Field Experiences
Sheila Seagle, Assistant Director for Student Success
Jennifer Whitaker, Associate Director for Alternate Teacher Pathways
The Office of Teacher Preparation (OTP) coordinates Longwood’s teacher preparation programs to include admission, clinical and field experiences, advising of teacher candidates, assessment and accreditation, and federal and state data reporting. OTP serves as the primary point of contact for the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) with regards to approval of and reevaluation of teacher preparation programs through achievement of biennial accountability measures. In addition, OTP facilitates collaboration across all teacher preparation programs through the coordination of the Professional Education Council (PEC).
Admission to Teacher Preparation
Application Window
- To be admitted for Fall Cohort, applications may be submitted by October 1, but no later than December 1 for spring registration
- To be admitted for Spring Cohort, applications may be submitted by March 1, but no later than May 1 for summer and fall registration
- To be admitted for Summer Cohort, applications may be submitted by June 1, but no later than August 1 for fall registration
*Transfer students are encouraged to contact the Office of Teacher Preparation as soon as possible to review prior coursework and discuss applicable timelines for admission.
Teacher Preparation Orientation Sessions
Teacher candidates are encouraged to attend one of the information and orientation sessions that are offered multiple times each semester. Explanation of the teacher preparation application process, tips on course planning, and assistance with teacher preparation program requirements will be provided at each session.
Requirements
- Earn a “C-” or better in ENGL 165 or the transfer equivalent
- Earn a “C” or better in introductory education course(s) for the specific program area:
- Art Education
- Early Childhood Education; Secondary Education 6-12: English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History and Social Sciences; PK-12: Teaching English as a Second Language; Modern Languages: Spanish, French, and German; and Theatre
- Elementary Education; Elementary and Middle Education
- Health and Physical Education (two of the following four courses):
- Music Education
- Special Education K-12
- To apply to Teacher Preparation, please complete and submit the application along with the following documents through the application system available on the OTP website:
- Criminal background check results
- Negative TB test results
- Complete the following Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) modules and submit certificates of completion through the application system available on the OTP website:
- Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training
- Behavior Intervention and Support Training
- Cultural Competency Training
- Dyslexia Awareness Training
- GPA Requirements:
- Candidates must maintain an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher. Prospective teacher candidates who have an overall GPA ranging from 2.50 to 2.99 will be put on a waitlist until the end of the semester during which they applied and will be admitted once they reach a GPA of 3.00 or until the cohort average reaches a 3.0 GPA.
- The Office of Teacher Preparation (OTP) will admit as many students as mathematically possible while maintaining the cohort’s average GPA of 3.00 as required by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
- These calculations will be made at the end of the fall, spring, and summer semesters, immediately after new grades are reflected in the candidate’s GPAs. Calculations for waitlisted candidates will be made with new GPAs and will remain “open” for those on the waitlist until grades for current semester of enrollment are posted.
- In the event that candidates cannot be admitted as part of the semester’s cohort, they will be expected to work with their academic advisors to develop a plan for improving their overall GPA, which can include course retakes and/or tutoring services. Students will remain on the waitlist until such time as they have a GPA of 3.00, can be admitted as part of a future GPA waitlist cohort, or request that OTP cancel their application to the Teacher Preparation.
- The student’s initial Assessment of Professional Dispositions is a requirement for admission to Teacher Preparation and includes the faculty recommendation. The disposition assessment and recommnedation are submitted by the faculty directly to the Office of Teacher Preparation. The list of introductory-level courses where the disposition assessment is embedded can be found on the the OTP website.
- Admission to Teacher Preparation is a prerequisite for specific program coursework and is listed in relevant course descriptions. Students will not be able to regsiter for courses that require Teacher Preparation admission until all requirements are met and student have been officially admitted ot Teacher Preparation.
Student Teaching and Professional Semester
Application Forms
- Student Teaching Placement Request form:
- Candidates must select three school divisions for student teaching and will indicate the school(s) they attended and/or schools where family members work.
- Due dates:
- April 15 for the following spring semester
- November 15 for the following fall semester
- Student Teaching Final Requirements form:
- Certification of Emergency First Aid, CPR, & AED training (hands-on)
- Passing Praxis subject assessment score report for all licensure areas except Theatre, Special Education, and School Librarianship, and for second area of endorsement if applicable
- Passing Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary scores for Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education PK-6 and Special Education
- Due Dates:
- September 15 for the following spring semester
- April 15 for the following fall semester
Requirements
- All coursework, assessments, and requirements must be met prior to student teaching. School divisions hosting placements may have additional requirements that they will communicate directly to the candidates prior to student teaching. Travel to and from placements are the responsibility of the student teacher.
- Student teaching placements consists of 13 weeks (Early Childhood is 10 weeks) and may be divided into two placements depending on the program.
- Students must maintain both an overall and major GPA of 2.50 or higher in order to student teach.
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