Apprentice Teaching FAQ

Prior to Apprentice Teaching B, you must: (a) be in the process of completing all program and course requirements (the expectation is that students will be as close as possible to meeting graduation requirements prior to Apprentice Teaching B); (b) obtain a Nevada substitute teaching license; (c) acquire professional liability coverage; (d) satisfactorily complete assigned components of your NevadaTeach portfolio; (e) meet all requirements of the school district in which you plan to complete Apprentice Teaching B; and, (f) submit a College of Education and Human Development internship application by the established deadlines.

The NevadaTeach team of co-directors, master teachers, and program coordinator will verify these requirements have been met and will discuss your readiness for Apprentice Teaching B with the College of Education and Human Development Office of Clinical Experiences and your academic advisors.

Deadlines for submitting the College of Education and Human Development internship application are March 1^st for fall internships and Oct. 1^st for spring internships. The College of Education and Human Development has an internship application.

Students planning on completing Apprentice Teaching B must register for NVTC 492: Apprentice Teaching B (7 Credits). The seminar component of this course meets regularly to discuss topics pertaining to the Apprentice Teaching B experience. 

You must have a Nevada Substitute license for Apprentice Teaching B placements. Unless notified otherwise by NevadaTeach program staff, you must also be hired by the Washoe County School District as a substitute teacher. Interns with extensive substitute experience often seem more confident in their classroom management and delivery of instruction. Substitute licenses are issued by the state, like your driver's license. You must also apply as a substitute with the school district. This is also helpful, as it allows you to substitute for your mentor teacher. Please find the application for a Nevada Substitute license.

The Office of Clinical Experiences and/or NevadaTeach program staff will notify you in the event your application is not complete or you have not met the requirements for Apprentice Teaching B. Failure to meet all Apprentice Teaching B requirements may void your internship application or delay your Apprentice Teaching B.

The following table is subject to change and may not be inclusive. NevadaTeach program staff will notify you personally if there are additional requirements after a placement has been made. You are responsible for any costs related to school district requirements.

All international placements must be arranged through the college’s Consortium for Overseas Teaching [COST]. If you choose to have an international placement, you must meet all expectations of both the COST program and the NevadaTeach program. For information regarding the COST program contact Dr. Mahon at jmahon@unr.edu.

No! Applicants for Apprentice Teaching B shall not, in any way, attempt to independently arrange their own Apprentice Teaching B assignments, or contact any agency, school, or classroom teacher to discuss any aspect of the placement. This policy also applies to parents, friends, or relatives of the applicant.

The placement process involves NevadaTeach faculty collaborating with schools or appropriate agencies to secure mutually beneficial learning environments in which Apprentice Teachers work to gain supervised teaching experience. Your assignment will be made with much care and attention to its suitability. Consideration will be given to each individual’s growth and development while in the NevadaTeach program. All individuals who have been approved for Apprentice Teaching B will be asked for preferences in relation to grade levels and general geographical region within our area. Additionally, all Apprentice Teachers will be given the opportunity to share any special circumstances that might influence their placement.

The start date for Apprentice Teaching B will vary according to the schedule of the assigned school. Fall placements will start three (3) working days before school starts. Spring placements begin on the first day of school after the assigned district’s Winter Break. If you have an unusual circumstance and cannot start Apprentice Teaching B on the expected date, contact NevadaTeach program staff immediately.

The Apprentice Teaching B experience requires you spend 280 hours per week in your school placement over a 14-week period (average of 20 hours per week) and that you attend all seminar meetings on the UNR campus. You will autonomously teach two classes for ten weeks each as described below. The first week of your Apprentice Teaching is observational. The second week of your Apprentice Teaching you will begin teaching the first of your two assigned classes. The third week of your Apprentice Teaching you will begin teaching the second of your two classes. You will continue to teach every session of these two classes until the end of the 12^th week. The 13^th and 14^th weeks will be the reverse of the first and second weeks. There may be additional observations required during the 14^th week. Please keep in mind this is the ideal schedule but may be adjusted for individual circumstances through discussion with NevadaTeach faculty and your mentor teacher.

It is important to recognize, as an Apprentice Teacher, you are a guest in the school. Mentor teachers are legally responsible for determining what is best for their students. While NevadaTeach has an established timeline of what is expected each week during Apprentice Teaching B, it will ultimately be a team decision among the Apprentice Teacher, mentor teacher, and University Supervisor to determine what responsibilities you will assume and when. If you demonstrate competence, responsibility, and tact, you will likely have many opportunities to begin teaching early in your experience and to try more innovative teaching strategies.

You may receive phone calls or emails while your internship application is being processed. Please respond promptly. The NevadaTeach faculty will email you when your placement has been arranged. When you receive your placement notification email, you will also be notified of who will be assigned as your University Supervisor. The University Supervisor may or may not be a NevadaTeach faculty

member. Your University Supervisor will be responsible for establishing a first meeting in which introductions will be made and expectations for the Apprentice Teaching B experience will be shared.

**IMPORTANT** - Remember, even if you have a placement, if you do not fulfill the requirements of the University of Nevada, Reno and the partnering district, you will not be allowed into the school to start your internship until you are cleared.

If you want to appeal your Apprentice Teaching B placement, you should provide the NevadaTeach College of Education and Human Development Co-Director with a written statement within 10 working days from the date you were informed of this placement. The Education Co-Director will review the statement and either change or uphold the original placement. Should the placement be upheld, the student can further request the Education Co-Director arrange a final appeal meeting with the College of Education and Human Development Associate Dean who oversees all teacher education programs.

Any concerns that arise during Apprentice Teaching B should be communicated immediately to either the University Supervisor or the NevadaTeach College of Education and Human Development Co-Director, so early intervention can occur to support your success. Changes in Apprentice Teaching B placements after they have started are only made in unusual circumstances. If you experience situations in your placement that you feel rise to this level, please notify either your University Supervisor or the NevadaTeach Education Co-Director, immediately.