Profiles and Perspectives of Clinical Supervisors in Teacher Education

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 12
  In Roundtable Session: Mentoring the Mentors: Examining Learning and Practice Across Teacher Educator Roles

Abstract

Despite university supervisors’ critical role in the success of P-12 teacher candidates, research is limited on how to best prepare supervisors to mentor their supervisees and interact with cooperating teachers and school administrators. This qualitative study uses national and local questionnaire data as well as focus group discussion to explore supervisors’ experiences and surface dilemmas of supervisory practice. Results indicate supervisors suffer overwhelming workloads, feel marginalized by their institutions, lack ongoing training, and are often unclear as to what their role is. The success of the cadres of clinical supervisors ultimately depends on training, but more crucially on full engagement by their home institutions.

Authors

• Laura Baecher, Hunter College - CUNY

• Bede McCormack, LaGuardia Community College - CUNY

• Alexander Cuenca, Indiana University - Bloomington