Wrapping Up CPII Placements
What comes after the clinical practice experience?
As CPII teacher candidates (TCs) come to the end of their clinical practice experience, we want to provide some suggestions for wrapping up CPII placements and considering next steps.
Wrapping Up CPII Placements
While coming to the end of the credential program is an exciting time, it can also be filled with uncertainty and mixed emotions. It is important to honor these feelings and create space for reflection, so it might help if the cooperating teacher (CT) and university supervisor (US) help the TC reflect on the following:
How will the candidate gain closure on their experience?
How will the candidate say goodbye to their CTs, students, and Cal Poly support teams?
What steps need to be taken to complete their credential?
What comes next?
As CPII candidates complete their final placements, they should contact the School of Education’s credential office, at soe@calpoly.edu, with any questions.
Next Steps
CPII candidates might decide to apply for and secure jobs in the new year, serve as short or long-term substitutes, or take some time off.
For those wanting to begin their job search immediately, Cal Poly Career Services are available up to one year after graduating free of charge! Some of the resources available include:
Virtual Resources and Workshops: Find resources to actively search for jobs.
Student Resource Toolkit: Find resources to help prepare for job searching.
Attend an Event: Events are provided in-person or virtually.
Meet with a Career Counselor: Schedule an appointment or use their drop-in hours.
In addition to Cal Poly Career Services, there are myriad job boards candidates can use to search and apply for teaching positions:
Edjoin: A leading job board specific to searching and applying for jobs in education.
Linkedin: A professional online network that can be used to find jobs.
Indeed: An employment website.
For those who do secure their first teaching position, here are some tips to consider leading up to your first day:
Reach out to your site administrator to ask about the following:
Start dates of your employment
Teacher workdays
Grade level and classroom assignment
Safety protocol and policies, including in-person teaching protocol
First year teacher support programs: You can visit the CTC (Commission on Teacher Credentialing) website to learn more about Teacher Induction in California. If you scroll all the way down on this page, you will find region-specific Institutions Supporting Teacher Induction Programs.
If possible, connect with your grade level/department colleagues:
Start to develop relationships with your grade level/department team.
Visit your new school site:
Take advantage of early access to your classroom to start setting up your learning environment. You can read one of these articles for ideas: 32 Strategies for Building a Positive Learning Environment
Make sure you know your school’s layout, including the following:
Office, library, cafeteria, technology center/computer room
Teacher work and break rooms
Teacher mailboxes
Student and teacher restrooms
Playground
Additional Resources
School of Education Clinical Practice Website: Bookmark this webpage to access previous newsletters and Technology Video Tutorials.
