Field Experience Coordinator & Advisor

Staff - Non Union

Job Category
M&P - AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Student Management, Level B

Job Title
Field Experience Coordinator & Advisor

Department
UBCO | Administrative Support | Okanagan School of Education | Faculty of Education

Compensation Range
$6,551.00 - $9,418.83 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date
April 11, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary
A team of Field Advisors (FAs) is responsible for helping to coordinate and support the field experiences of teacher candidates in relation to the mission and priorities of the Okanagan School of Education (OSE). As a University representative in schools and communities for the Okanagan School of Education in the Faculty of Education, a primary task entails being part of a team charged with facilitating connections among teacher candidates, practicing teachers, faculty, and community partners, purposefully bringing theory and practice together to enlarge and deepen professional knowledge. Thus, the FA team commitment is to  build and sustain a learning culture across team members, embodying the OSE scholar-practitioner community at the heart of the School. Additionally, this position requires that the Coordinator oversee practicum placements, ensuring all related arrangements are thoughtfully organized with clear informative communications operating between the campus and the field.
Organizational Status

This position reports directly to the Director of Undergraduate Programs and Director of the Okanagan School of Education, working in close relationship with Faculty members who teach within the Bachelor of Education program and across the Okanagan School of Education.

The Okanagan School of Education includes 15 full-time faculty, sessional lecturers, as well as adjunct faculty members ranging from 10-20 per year. The graduate program comprises approximately 100 students pursuing Masters (MA, MEd) and doctoral programs. The undergraduate program comprises approximately 120 post-bac students pursuing a B. Ed. degree over 16 months.  Additionally, there is coursework for ongoing professional development throughout each year, including Summer Institute. As a whole, the Okanagan School of Education offers intellectual community and supports for educators across all phases of their professional growth. Faculty maintain active and ongoing research programs. Faculty research grants support the employment of student researchers, both graduate and undergraduate students. There are 3 BCGEU and 2 management and professional staff supporting the operations and administration of the Department.

Work Performed

Oversight of field experiences:

• Facilitates and contributes to the development of a collaborative, inclusive, inquiry-oriented professional learning culture with the FA team, OSE Undergraduate program faculty, and partner schools/school districts.
• Prepares for practicum visits and reviews as required.
• Collaborates with other members of the FA team regarding the communication and logistical information required to develop and sustain the field experience partnerships.
• Responsibility for a cohort of BEd students (teacher candidates and interns). This includes mentoring, and assessing teacher candidates and interns regarding their field experiences as well as collaborating with and supporting FA team, mentor teachers and school administrators. 
• Liaises with mentor teachers, administrators, other field advisors, field observers and the Director of Undergraduate Programs regarding learning goals and/or any concerns with a BEd student’s progress during field experience.
• Oversees students of concern, ensuring due process for teacher candidates and interns.
• Advises the Director of Undergraduate Programs on students of concern.
• Advises the Director of Undergraduate Programs on key considerations that impact the BEd program priorities and any long term planning related to teacher candidate and intern success.
• In collaboration with the FA Team, provides input to the Directors, to develop and implement organizational strategies, initiatives and policies that promote wellness for teacher candidates.
• Establishes and maintains key collaborative partnerships with campus resources and initiatives that support at-risk student success, including the Disability Resource Centre, Equity and Inclusion Office, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office, Early Alert, Ombuds Office etc.

Programmatic Planning, Coordination, Communication and Public Relations:

• Facilitates the field experience team efforts regarding program planning in relation to the development and coordination of field experiences, including orientation and induction activities, mentor teacher recruitment and follow-up, and partnership development.
• Oversees development of field experience and curricular materials as needed (in coordination with the Directors).
• Participates in the development and/or revision of policies and guidelines for the Bachelor of Education program and corresponding manuals which clearly outline the processes in field experience education (e.g. field experience handbook).
• Consults and collaborates with teacher candidates, interns, mentor teachers, school district personnel and community agencies regarding field experiences to clarify policies and expectations.
• Liaises (in coordination with the Directors) with key stakeholders including: local school districts, government agencies and the Ministry of Education, the private sector individually and through employer associations, to foster relationships between the OSE and the external community, seeking advice, perspective, and support.
• Collaborates with school/district partners to develop professional learning initiatives that support teacher candidates and interns.
• Understanding of all UBC polices, OSE policies and well versed in admissions and graduation requirements by the BC Teacher Regulation Branch with excellent spoken and written skills and effective conflict resolution skills.
• Experience with and in-depth understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems and the BC curriculum,
• Personal experience as an educator, along with substantive knowledge of effective practices as an educator.

Field Experience

• Facilitates co-planning/co-assessment processes across BEd field experiences and Advisories, consulting with Directors and other members of the field experience.
• Leads an Advisory cohort of approximately 25-30 candidates.
• Conducts school visits to school placement hosts and conducts other feedback sessions (sometimes in collaboration with the FA team) to assess overall practicum program delivery, effectiveness, current educational trends and future employer requirements.
• Oversees ongoing feedback about teacher candidate and intern professionalism and competence, and provides guidance and assistance if any concerns and/or difficulties arise.
• Oversees student progress and provides student advising regarding progression and performance in field experiences.
• Consults with curricular block leaders and instructors to assess and monitor the progress of teacher candidates throughout the program.
• When required, participate in appeal processes initiated by teacher candidates or interns.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of the Okanagan School of Education.
Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position plays a critical role in assessing and monitoring the progress of teacher candidates throughout the program and providing them with ongoing feedback.  This position must be willing to give formative as well as summative evaluative feedback both verbally and in writing.  This position also collaborates with and seeks guidance by collaborating with other Faculty Advisors under the supervision of the Director of Undergraduate Programs with regard to the feedback to be given and the options to be provided to teacher candidates with regard to progressing through the program.

This position must be willing to give negative feedback to the teacher candidate if indicated.  Inappropriate judgment or unwillingness to provide constructive feedback can harm the teacher candidate’s progress in the program and/or result in difficulties in subsequent practice settings.  Incorrect or inappropriate decisions may adversely affect teacher candidates and directly affect the reputation and credibility of the Okanagan School of Education, Faculty of Education and of UBC, locally, nationally and internationally.

Supervision Received
Works under the direct supervision of the Director of Undergraduate Programs, with input from the other Directors within the Okanagan School of Education.  All decisions and work conducted by this position is subject to review, approval and supervision by the leadership team within the Okanagan School of Education.
Supervision Given
The Director of Undergraduate Programs and the other members of the leadership team are also available regarding policy and its application to assessing teacher candidate performance.  It is expected that this position will work as a member of a team and will provide support and mentorship to other team members as appropriate.
Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three to four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Master-level degree in Education is strongly preferred.
• Relevant classroom practice/experience.
• Preference will be given to applicants with instructional leadership experience in school settings.

Other Information:

Off-campus work will take place within clusters of schools in the follow schools districts: SD 83- North Okanagan/Shuswap, SD 22: Vernon, SD 23: Central Okanagan, and SD 67- Okanagan/Skaha.