Teaching in an Internship (San Rafael Campus and Ukiah Center)

The Intern Teacher Program is an alternative, state-approved plan for the professional preparation of teachers. As part of California's innovative Learning to Teach Continuum, the Intern Program offers the opportunity for a unique partnership among highly qualified candidates, participating school districts, and the School of Education.

Dominican University’s Intern Programs continually work to expand the network of participating school districts and to strengthen the partnership between participating school districts and the University. While it is the responsibility of the intern to secure employment, program faculty communicate with participating school districts to assist in making connections between interns and available teaching positions for which the interns are qualified. Intern teacher candidates must be admitted to the Intern Credential programs and be interviewed and hired by a participating school district in at least a 50% contracted position. This percentage of time may be larger depending upon Dominican’s partnership agreement with particular districts.

1. To be hired as an intern, the candidate must meet the following requirements:

• The candidate must meet all of the requirements for Admission to Intern Teaching (see Chapter 4: Activities Prior to Intern Teaching of this Handbook).
• The candidate must complete the employment application and selection process required by the district(s) where s/he desires a position.

2. Selection of an Intern for admission is based upon the experience of the candidate, the needs of the school district, and the candidate's ability to meet the initial requirements for issuance of the University Intern Teaching Credential.

• It is the responsibility of the candidate to secure employment as an intern.
• Once the candidate has met all of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and employment requirements and is admitted to the Intern Credential Program; the candidate is authorized to teach on an Intern Credential.
• Upon successful completion of the two-year academic program and supervised fieldwork components, the candidate will be issued a Single/Multiple Subject Preliminary Teaching, or Education Specialist Preliminary credential.
• Because an intern is employed and assigned to a teaching position, the supervised teaching fieldwork experience occurs in his/her own classroom, occurs concurrently with coursework, and lasts the length of the internship, typically two years.

3. Ample support and supervision of the intern during his/her internship is one of the most important components for a successful outcome in the Intern’s professional preparation program.

• Towards this end, a site support team is created for each intern, consisting of the site administrator/principal, the university supervisor, and a support provider, coordinated by the program coordinators.
• Each member of the team has specific roles and responsibilities as delineated in the Form #12A, Internship Agreement for NCBTP.
•  In addition, during the term of the internship, the intern will participate in the Professional Development/Intern Seminar to analyze, discuss, and develop effective strategies for issues that arise from the classroom assignment in collaboration with University faculty and intern colleagues.

4. Multiple subject and single subject intern teachers are expected to experience at least two or more grade levels or courses advancement over the two-year period. Candidates not assigned to two different levels or courses may meet this requirement through one of the following options:

• Observe for a minimum of 20 hours over the course of the internship in a classroom different in grade level or school setting from the regular assignment. (These observation hours may be completed during the intern’s planning period.)
• Teaching in a setting other than the regular assignment in a summer school, after school, or other supplemental school program.
• An alternative observation or teaching experience approved in advance by the program coordinator.

5. Education specialist candidates are expected to participate in both general education and special education field experiences over the two-year period. Candidates may meet this requirement by:

• Observing for a minimum of 20 hours over the course of the internship in a general education classroom. (These observations hours may be completed during the intern’s planning period.)
• Teaching in a setting other than the regular assignment (e.g. summer school, after school, or other school program as approved by the program coordinator).
• An alternative observation or teaching experience approved in advance by the program coordinator.

6. Intern teachers teaching in a non-public/private school must teach in a public school (see program policy on General Education Teaching Requirement for Interns, Chapter 8 of this Handbook).