About Lipscomb
Student Teaching and Completion
There are 127 schools in the Metropolitan Nashville Public School System, which covers about 525 square miles and is the 41st largest urban school district in the nation. Included in the 127 schools are 9 magnet schools and 11 United States Schools of Excellence, which is the highest award given to any public or independent K-12 school. Metro schools continue to emphasize technology as an instructional tool, with a total of 466 21st Century Classrooms. English Language Learners programs serve over 3,400 students who represent 79 different languages. The Teacher Education Program at Lipscomb University strives to prepare competent and caring educators for this diverse and technological environment. Metro schools provide the primary source of practicum and student teaching placements.
Enhanced student teaching is the culminating experience in the Teacher Education Program at Lipscomb University. Every teacher education student teaches in two different classrooms located in area schools for a total of 15 weeks of student teaching. Prior to student teaching, Lipscomb students gain valuable classroom experience by observing and assisting with instruction beginning as early as the second semester of the Freshman year and continuing throughout the program.
The student teaching experience begins with an orientation and a reception honoring the student teachers and the K-12 cooperating teachers who are selected to work with student teachers. Student teachers are also teamed with a faculty member from the university who serves as a supervisor during student teaching. Supervisors maintain close contact with student teachers as they evaluate, encourage, and support growth. Regularly scheduled large and small group seminars provide avenues for ongoing professional development and a peer support network. At the conclusion of student teaching, Lipscomb students are asked to evaluate the experience and their assigned supervisor. This information is used to make improvements as Lipscomb prepares teachers to effectively practice their craft, develop appropriate attitudes and values, cultivate relationships, and gain essential knowledge in an atmosphere of C.A.R.E.