Cooperating Teachers / Site Supervisors
Queens College extends its sincere appreciation to its valued partner educators, the cooperating teachers and site supervisors, for the exceptional professional experiences they bring to our candidates.
In the words of Dr. Bobbie Kabuto, Dean of the School of Education:
The School of Education at Queens College stands committed to addressing the professional development needs of our students, alumni, and the broader community we serve. Collaborating with over 300 partners, mainly situated across Queens and Long Island, we offer a rich spectrum of aligned academic and professional experiences for our candidates. These experiences encompass a sequence of project-based and community-engaged clinical opportunities, fostering environments that champion equity and social justice. Through these experiences, our candidates not only develop their skills but also prepare to contribute meaningfully to a globally interconnected and inclusive society.
When you host and mentor one of our teacher candidates, remember that you are not only joining a college, but you are also becoming part of a community that values learning, diversity, and the power of education to transform lives. Let us collectively nurture these values and work towards creating a better tomorrow.
Thank you for joining us as partners in providing authentic opportunities to Queens College candidates to support the professional growth of our future teachers, school counselors, school leaders, and mental health professionals. Together, we provide professional preparation and continuous support to ensure that our candidates are progressing in their ability to apply academic knowledge in high quality and community-engaged student teaching, internship, and practicum experiences.
Queens College Teacher Education Policies and Procedures
Leading up to and during the course of student teaching, internship, or practicum, cooperating teachers/site supervisors will receive emails from various offices at Queens College. Some of the emails will be related to: Anthology Portfolio for collecting data for accreditation purposes; tuition waiver policies; Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) Opportunities offered at QC; Queens College Teacher Portfolio Assessment (QCTPA); and, Queens College Cooperating Teacher Professional Learning Modules. We hope that the information provided on each below is helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to consult the Contact Information section below.
Anthology Portfolio
The mission of the Queens College School of Education, an Educator Preparation Provider (EPP), is to facilitate the development of competent, caring, and qualified teachers, counselors, school psychologists, and educational leaders dedicated to promoting equity, excellence, and ethics in urban schools and communities. To ensure that our candidates and graduates have the knowledge and skills they need to become effective practitioners and to advance assessment for learning, the Queens College EPP has adopted an e-portfolio, a web-based assessment management system called Anthology Portfolio.
Anthology Portfolio (previously known as Chalk & Wire) enables candidates to document academic and professional development, organize and showcase their work, and reflect on learning in alignment with programmatic goals, objectives, and national standards — including discipline-specific competencies. Anthology Portfolio also enables the EPP and its programs to maintain a quality assurance system comprised of valid data from multiple measures to engage in continuous improvement that is sustained and evidence-based.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions that we hope will help explain Anthology Portfolio and the role cooperating teachers play in it:
How is Anthology Portfolio connected to clinical practice? Anthology Portfolio is used to give feedback to candidates so they can grow and learn throughout their time at Queens College and to provide feedback to our education programs to help shape the way our programs are designed and implemented.
Are cooperating teachers / site supervisors required to submit any Anthology Portfolio tasks? Yes. We absolutely understand how busy you are and how valuable your time is. As such, we have worked hard to ensure that the amount of time needed from you to complete any Anthology Portfolio tasks will be minimal (i.e., maybe a few minutes, several times a semester).
How do cooperating teachers / site supervisors obtain an Anthology Portfolio account? The Field Placement Office will provide you with a guest account on Anthology using the email we have on record for you. All communications from Anthology Portfolio will go directly to that email.
I received an email from Anthology Portfolio with placement information on it. Am I required to do anything at this time? No. Once placements are created in Anthology Portfolio, all stakeholders are sent an email that contains the candidates’ placement information. The email is simply informational. If there are any errors (e.g., your name is spelled incorrectly, or the school information is incorrect) please do email your appropriate field placement coordinator to correct them in Anthology Portfolio.
There are dates listed on the placement. Are these the dates the candidate should be at the site? The dates displayed in the placement are internal dates for office use. The dates are not indicative of the time the candidates are required to be at the site.
How does Queens College keep track of the candidates’ time at the site? Each candidate will be required to log their hours on Anthology Portfolio during the semester. You will be asked to verify and electronically confirm these hours. Information will be provided to you via email.
Are there any other tasks I must complete via Anthology Portfolio? Yes. You will be asked to provide feedback on your candidate and their QC supervisor through surveys at the end of the semester. Please note that the surveys you submit are not accessible to candidates or QC supervisors. Neither do you have access to the surveys candidates and QC supervisors submit on cooperating teachers / site supervisors. Further information regarding these surveys will be provided to you via email.
I am having trouble navigating Anthology Portfolio. Who can I contact for assistance? Queens College has a wonderful Anthology support team who is able to assist you in navigating the system. They can be reached via email at anthologyqcsupport@qc.cuny.edu.
Tuition Waivers
Cooperating teachers/site supervisors with major responsibilities for supervising/mentoring one or more student teachers/clinical interns are eligible to receive a non-transferable CUNY tuition waiver for one course, not exceeding 3-credits to be used at any CUNY campus.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions that we hope will explain the process of requesting and using the tuition waivers:
When will I receive information on obtaining the waiver? Information on requesting your tuition waiver (including the application link) will be emailed out in early December for mentorship in Fall semesters, and in early May for mentorship in Spring semesters.
How will I receive my waiver? Your tuition waiver will be emailed to the address we have on file for you.
When will I receive my waiver? The tuition waivers are emailed out on the following schedule: For mentorship in the Fall semesters, waivers are emailed out in late January. For mentorship in the Spring semesters, waivers are emailed out in late June.
I have more than 1 candidate this semester. How many waivers am I entitled to? How many waivers can I use in the semester? You are entitled to one waiver per candidate mentored. The maximum number of waivers that can be used is 2 (of 3 credits each) per semester.
How many credits does the waiver cover? Each waiver covers 3 graduate or undergraduate credits.
Must I use the waiver at Queens College? No. You can use the waiver at any college or campus that is part of the CUNY University system. Information on CUNY campuses can be found at https://www.cuny.edu/about/colleges-schools.
How long do I have to use the waiver? As per CUNY policy, “the certificate is valid for enrollment within one year from date of issue.” For example, waivers issued during the Fall 2022 semester can be used in the Spring 2023, Summer 2023, or Fall 2023 semester
Is the waiver transferable? For example, if I don’t have use for the waiver, can I give it to my child who is enrolled at a CUNY institution? In accordance with CUNY policy, the waivers are, unfortunately, not transferable. Only the cooperating teacher / site supervisor who mentored the QC candidate may use the waiver.
Does the waiver cover all fees? As per CUNY policy, “an application fee will be charged upon original application…Cooperating teachers are exempt from payment of student activity fees; they are responsible for the Application fee, Cooperating Teacher Fee, Consolidated Services Fee, Technology Fee, and any other-than-tuition charges.” For a more comprehensive breakdown of fees, please contact the Bursar’s Office of the CUNY institution where you will use the waiver.
How do I register? What is the process once I receive the waiver? If you are not currently a student at a CUNY campus, apply to the campus. For information regarding the application process, please contact the CUNY university you wish to enroll in directly. Once you are in the system, you can register through CUNYFirst or through the department for the course you are registering for.
I want to use my waiver for the upcoming semester but I have not received it yet. Is there a way to register? Speak with the Bursar’s Office at your CUNY campus and explain you are waiting on your waiver(s). Many CUNY universities will not drop you from the course as long as the out-of-pocket expenses associated with the bill are paid giving you time to receive the waiver and apply it later in the semester.
I already paid for my course. What can I do to receive a refund? If you have already paid your bill for the upcoming semester and are entitled to a tuition waiver, you can contact the Bursar’s Office at your CUNY campus. Once you receive your waiver and present it for payment, you should be able to receive a refund on your tuition.
How do I pay my bill? The tuition waiver must be provided to the Bursar’s office. For Queens College, this information will be emailed to you along with your waiver. For all other CUNY institutions, please contact the Bursar’s Office at the campus you are taking the course(s).
What happens if after receiving it, I lose my waiver? In accordance with the tuition waiver policy, lost or misplaced waivers will not be replaced.
Who do I contact for a question that was not answered above? Each department at the School of Education has a designated Field Placement Coordinator. Any questions/concerns not addressed in this document should be directed to your field coordinator.
Evelyn Lee – evelyn.lee@qc.cuny.edu
Victoria Dell’Era – victoria.dellera@qc.cuny.edu
Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) Opportunities
Queens College is an approved Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) sponsor and awards CTLE clock hours for over 250 courses in special education, educational leadership, early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, TESOL, and other education fields and content areas. Please click here to access the list of Queens College courses that may be used for CTLE hours. For credit-bearing college courses, each semester-hour of credit is equal to 15 clock hours of CTLE.
Please note that Queens College can not issue CTLE hours for work as cooperating teachers. According to the New York State Education Department:
- Teachers acting as a mentor to a new classroom teacher as part of a school district’s or BOCES’ mentoring program may, at the discretion of the school district or BOCES, credit up to 30 hours of such time towards their CTLE requirement in each five-year registration period.
- Teachers acting as a mentor to a teacher candidate may, at the discretion of the school district or BOCES, credit up to 25 hours of such time towards their CTLE requirement in each five-year registration period.
For Queen College CTLE-related questions, please reach out to our CTLE team via email at qcsectle@qc.cuny.edu.
Queens College Teacher Portfolio Assessment (QCTPA)
The Queens College School of Education, an Educator Preparation Provider (EPP), is pleased to announce the full integration of the Queens College Teacher Portfolio Assessment (QCTPA), commencing in the fall of 2023. The QCTPA offers a comprehensive approach to evaluate candidates’ preparedness for teaching in Pre-K to 12th grade classrooms. This assessment measures their knowledge, skills, and dispositions, with a primary emphasis on student learning. To align with the School of Education’s conceptual framework of Equity, Excellence, and Ethics (3Es) and its mission to deliver a progressive education for the upcoming generation of educators, the Portfolio draws on the principles of culturally responsive pedagogy and assessment as delineated in New York State’s Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework. The QCTPA comprises five key components: Lesson Planning, Lesson Delivery, Student Learning Assessment, Dispositions, and Reflective Practice. For more detailed information, please refer to the QCTPA Handbook. Below is a compilation of frequently asked questions.
Why is the QCTPA needed? At the April 2022 Board of Regents Meeting, the Board voted to modify the teacher performance assessment requirement by eliminating the edTPA requirement for certification. Instead, New York State registered teacher preparation programs are required to integrate a teacher performance assessment (TPA) into the candidates’ student teaching, practicum, or similar clinical experience (e.g., residency, mentored in-service component). The QCTPA meets this requirement.
If I am hosting a student teacher, do they need to complete the QCTPA? Yes, they do. Student teachers must complete and pass the QCTPA in order to be certified. Not providing them the opportunity to complete the QCTPA will jeopardize your student teacher’s ability to be certified.
If I am a cooperating teacher, what is required of me? Cooperating teachers do not have assigned tasks to complete for the QCTPA. Cooperating teachers, however, can support their student teachers through the QCTPA by ensuring that they are given the opportunity and time to complete the QCTPA tasks while in their placements.
Is the QCTPA an optional undertaking? No, it is not. The New York State Education Department mandates a teacher performance assessment for certification. To obtain a college recommendation for certification, candidates must successfully pass the QCTPA.
Who needs to complete the QCTPA? All candidates in their Initial teaching certificate program are required to successfully pass the QCTPA in order to receive a college recommendation for certification.
In what course is connected to the QCTPA? Candidates must complete the QCTPA in student teaching, practicum, or similar clinical experience (e.g., residency, mentored in-service component). The specific course will be determined and communicated to candidates by their respective programs.
Will the QCTPA be graded? Yes, for certification purposes, the QCTPA will be graded on a pass/fail basis. To receive a college recommendation, candidates must attain a passing grade on the QCTPA and achieve a grade of B or higher in their student teaching course. Additionally, instructors or supervisors may opt to assign a letter grade as part of the course.
How do student teachers complete the QCTPA? The QCTPA is accessible via the Queens College School of Education Anthology Portfolio. It is highly recommended that candidates closely review each section of the QCTPA Portfolio Handbook. Within the handbook, candidates will find a glossary containing essential term definitions, links, guiding questions, rubrics, and exemplars to aid them throughout the process.
Can cooperating teachers review the QCTPA Handbook? Yes. It is highly recommended that cooperating teachers familiarize themselves with the QCTPA Handbook. The handbook, along with this FAQ, can be found here.
What can cooperating teachers do to support their student teachers through the QCTPA? Cooperating teachers can support their student teachers by providing them a space to engage in lesson planning, teaching, and assessing student learning so they can complete the QCTPA.
Queens College Cooperating Teacher Professional Learning Modules
The Queens College Cooperating Teacher Professional Learning Modules are designed to help prepare school-based teacher educators to host Queens College student teachers.
In April 2019, the Board of Regents Higher Education Committee passed an amendment that requires school-based educators (cooperating teachers) and university-based teacher educators (supervisors) to participate in professional learning in partnership with P-12 and higher education faculty in order to provide effective clinical supervision. These training modules are the first step in providing continuous and ongoing professional development to our P-12 clinical partners.
The Queens College Cooperating Teacher Professional Learning Modules consist of three online self-paced modules that include videos as well as brief reflections. The modules explore the role of the cooperating teacher as a mentor and teacher educator who fosters pedagogical content knowledge and professional judgement when interacting with student teachers. They also provide an overview of the student teaching experience as well as content specific information from the different teacher education programs at Queens College.
At the completion of the training, cooperating teachers will be provided with a Queens College Certificate of Completion.
For questions about the Queens College Cooperating Teacher Professional Learning Modules, please reach out to Director of Professional Practice and Community Partnerships, Dr. Maysaa Bazna, at maysaa.bazna@qc.cuny.edu.
Contact Information
For general student teaching questions as well as critical matters related to your student teacher or QC supervisor, please contact our Clinical Professors:
Prof. Michael Perrone – EECE (Elementary & Early Childhood Education) via email at michael.perrone@qc.cuny.edu.
Prof. David Laurenson – SEYS (Secondary Education & Youth Services) via email at david.laurenson@qc.cuny.edu.
If you have any questions related to Anthology Portfolio, please contact the Office of Assessment and Accreditation via email at anthologyqcsupport@qc.cuny.edu.
For any questions related to tuition waivers, please contact our your Field Placement Coordinator:
Evelyn Lee – evelyn.lee@qc.cuny.edu
Victoria Dell’Era – victoria.dellera@qc.cuny.edu
For CTLE-related questions, please reach out to our CTLE team via email at qcsectle@qc.cuny.edu.
Any questions on Queens College Cooperating Teacher Professional Development Modules, please contact Director of the Office of Professional Practice and Community Partnerships, Dr. Maysaa Bazna, via email at Maysaa.bazna@qc.cuny.edu.