The Colleague Teacher is a qualified, registered teacher with a degree or equivalent in education.  The Colleague Teacher is a critical member of the supervision team and thus the quality of the supervision and support provided is significant in the professional growth of the Pre-service Teacher. The Responsibilities of the Colleague Teacher are outlined below.

Responsibilities of Colleague Teachers

• Model best practice in planning, teaching and assessment.
• Act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights and privileges of the Pre-service Teacher with special reference to excellence in performance and freedom of expression.
• Maintain a professional teaching relationship with Pre-service Teachers.
• Meet with Pre-service Teachers prior to the Professional Experience.
• Become familiar with the expectations for Pre-service Teachers on a Professional Experience as set out in the relevant Professional Experience documents.
• Introduce the Pre-service Teacher to all teaching and support staff.
• Provide advice and leadership regarding school procedures and protocols (including areas such as dress protocols; behaviour support procedures; responsibilities related to the overall operation of the school).
• Supervise all Pre-service Teacher’s lessons.
• Expect to see and review written lesson plans daily.
• Expect Pre-service Teachers to write and discuss constructive self evaluations concerning their professional learning and development.
• Provide constructive oral and written feedback regularly to Pre-service Teachers on their teaching performance with specific guidelines for improvement.
• Provide constructive and collegial support to Pre-service Teachers.
• Retain legal responsibility for the class at all times when a Pre-service Teacher is in attendance.
• Consult with the Pre-service Teacher’s Practicum Coordinator and /or Practicum Supervisor as required.
• Sign the Leave of Absence Form for the Pre-service Teacheron the day he/she returns to the school site following any absences from Practicum. Assist the Pre-service Teacher to fax this form to the Professional Experience Office.
• At the end of Practicum, if days have been missed, negotiate suitable times for completion of the allocated Practicum days with Pre-service Teacher. After the Pre-service Teacher has completed the details on the Negotiated Days Following Absence Form sign the Formso the Pre-service Teacher can forward it to the Professional Experience Office before he/she commences these days.
• Grade/evaluate the Pre-service Teacher on factors related to performance, effort, and level of achievement.
• Respond promptly to emerging problems with a Pre-service Teacher’s teaching performance.
• Provide a written interim and/or a final report for the Pre-service Teacher against the Professional Experience Assessment criteria, as required by the applicable Practicum guidelines.
• In conjunction with the School Principal, exercise the right to terminate a placement if it is judged to be damaging to the welfare of pupils or the school.
• Claim supervisory allowance using the required UTAS forms and procedures.

The responsibilities accepted by the School Principal in Professional Experience are sometimes shared between one or more members of senior staff at the school.

Responsibilities of School Principal or Designated Leader

• Encourage teachers who display high level teaching abilities to undertake the supervision of Pre-service Teachers on Practicum.
• Organise appropriate supervision for the Pre-service Teacher who has been accepted for teaching placement at the School.
• Undertake administrative responsibilities for the Pre-service Teacher whilst on the school site.
• Ensure that for legal reasons the Pre-service Teacher is not left in sole charge of a class at any point in time during the Practicum placement, as legal responsibility for the class always remains with the Colleague Teacher.
• Liaise with the Professional Experience Officer or Administrative Officer concerning placement issues.
• Liaise with the Practicum Coordinator and/or Practicum Supervisor regarding the supervision and assessment of the Pre-service Teacher on his/her placement.
• Orient Pre-service Teachers to school policies and procedures.
• Alert the Practicum Coordinator regarding Pre-service Teacher absences or misconduct.
• Oversee the return of assessment reports to the Professional Experience Administrative Officer, as specified in the documentation.