Clinical Experiences
Candidates are required to complete Clinical Experiences in PreK-Adult Partner Schools located in counties that are part of Concord University's service area, as well as required seminars offered at the University. Concord University's service area includes public schools in the following counties in WV and VA: Fayette, Greenbrier, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Wyoming, Tazewell, Bland & Giles.
Early Clinical Experiences are required by multiple education courses throughout the Professional Education Component, Content Specialization Component, and Methods Component. These Early Clinical Experiences will culminate in a Year Long Residency consisting of two parts. Students who complete Part 1 of the Year Long Residency will then transition into Part 2 of the Year Long Residency (Student Teaching) within the same classroom. Teacher Candidates are required to meet all special requirements set forth by each individual county's Board of Education if applicable.
Candidates working toward the Bachelor of Science in Education degree are advised that all phases of teacher education require cooperative efforts between Concord University and the public schools or other agencies.The superintendent, or legal representatives of these agencies or schools, and the representative of the University shall have the authority, after consultation, to reject placement or terminate the participation of any candidate who fails to meet the professional standards of the cooperating school, agency, or the University.During student teaching, the reports of the supervising teacher(s) and the recommendation(s) of the University Supervisor are essential components in determining the eligibility for graduation and recommendation for licensure.
Partner Schools
Concord University is involved in a collaborative with local public schools.The Partner Schools are designed to prepare future educators, to provide current educators with ongoing professional development, to encourage joint school-university faculty investigation of education-related issues, and to promote the learning of P-12 students. The Partner Schools, structured as a network that includes University and public school faculty, parents, and community partners, seek to improve teacher education and meet professional development needs and goals as identified by public school faculty.The partnership collaborative provides the bridges that connect Concord’s teacher education program to the daily instructional practices that occur in P-12 schools. The Partner Schools serve as clinical sites for teacher candidates to teach under the guidance of an expert mentor teacher.The clinical experiences allow faculty from Concord and the partnerships to collaborate extensively in providing quality experiences for all teacher candidates involved in the initiative.The public schools benefit from the expertise of the University faculty and the significant contributions the teacher candidates make to the school. The children in these schools benefit from the additional adult attention as well as from the enthusiasm and new learning strategies that teacher candidates often bring to the classroom as they prepare to become teachers.