Student Teaching

The Teacher Education Program at Western Illinois University is focused on the training of future educators for the "real world" in Pre-K-12 schools.

Student teaching is the culminating experience of the teacher education program (16 weeks). It provides candidates with the opportunity to hone their teaching skills in Pre-K-12 classroom.

Student teachers are placed at public school sites (Pre-K-12) in one of 4 identified geographic regions for the length of the student teaching experience. Each student teacher will select one of the 17 subject major options-Agriculture, Art, Bilingual, Biology, Chemistry, Early Childhood, Elementary Education, English, French, History, Mathematics, Middle Level Education, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Spanish, and Special Education.

Prior to student teaching, the National Sex Offender, the Illinois Methamphetamine Manufacturer, and the Illinois State Police Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth registries will be checked by the candidates education advisor. *In addition, candidates must supply a Fingerprint criminal background investigation report to each individual school district prior to any field work. Candidates will be prohibited from completing student teaching if a registry check or background investigation discloses arrests and/or convictions deemed problematic. Information may be obtained in Horrabin Hall 40; questions may be directed to the Licensure Officer; 309-298-2117.

In accordance with Illinois school code, all teacher education candidates must complete an edTPA to receive a professional educator license.