The Field Supervisor is a key member of the student teaching "triad” responsible for the development of student teachers as they develop their teaching skills, aptitudes, and abilities. Without the collaboration of dedicated Field Supervisors, it would be impossible to prepare our B.Ed. and MATL Student Teachers for the challenge and reward of the teaching profession.
Responsibilities of the Supervisor*
- Field Supervisors value and care for all student teachers and act in their best interests.
Field Supervisors contribute to the emotional, esthetic, intellectual, physical, social and vocational development of preservice teachers. They are responsible for the emotional and physical safety of preservice teachers by ensuring that teaching environment in which a preservice teacher is placed will maximize their development. Field Supervisors treat preservice teachers with respect and dignity. Field Supervisors respect the diversity of Quebec classrooms, schools and communities. Field Supervisors have a privileged position of power and trust. They respect confidentiality. Field Supervisors do not abuse or exploit preservice teachers for personal, sexual, ideological, material or other advantage.
- Field Supervisors are role models who act ethically and honestly.
Field Supervisors act with integrity, maintaining the dignity and credibility of the profession and McGill University. Field Supervisors are accountable for their conduct as a liaison between McGill University, schools and school boards as well as individual cooperating teachers and student teachers.
- Field Supervisors understand and apply knowledge of classroom pedagogy and teaching practices.
Field Supervisors are knowledgeable experts in classroom pedagogy and teaching practice as it applies to creating positive and successful learning environments for students. Field supervisors demonstrate an understanding of individual learning differences and special needs. This knowledge is used to assist Field Supervisors in advising preservice teachers about curriculum, instruction, assessment and classroom management.
- Field Supervisors support and mentor effective practices in areas of classroom management, planning, instruction, assessment, evaluation and reporting.
Field Supervisors have the knowledge and skills to facilitate learning for all preservice teachers. Field Supervisors thoughtfully consider all aspects of teaching, from planning through reporting, and understand the relationships among them. Field Supervisors understand a variety of instructional and assessment strategies from which to advise preservice teachers.
- Field Supervisors have a broad knowledge base and understand the core principles of effective teaching.
Field Supervisors understand the curricular, conceptual and methodological foundations of the Quebec Education programme (QEP) and of the subject areas they supervise. Field Supervisors must be able to communicate effectively in English or French. Field Supervisors support and mentor preservice teachers to understand relevant curricula in a Quebec, Canadian, Indigenous, and global context. Field Supervisors convey the values, beliefs and knowledge of a democratic society.
- Field Supervisors act as a representative of McGill University.
Field Supervisors ensure that ISA and McGill policies and procedures are implemented and applied. Field supervisors also verify that the preservice teaching field placement(s) conform to university guidelines. Field Supervisors observe, assess, and evaluate preservice teachers, in collaboration with the cooperating teacher, in relation to their progressive development of Professional Competencies, both with oral and written feedback, per an assessment schedule. Field Supervisors proactively communicate and collaborate with the host school(s), including mediating any potential challenges or obstacles as they arise. Field Supervisors have an understanding of the Quebec education system and the McGill policies as they relate to their duties.
*Adapted from Standards for the Education, Competence and Professional Conduct of Educators in BC. Retrieved from https://www.bcteacherregulation.ca/Standards/StandardsDevelopment.aspx
Position Summary & Primary Responsibilities
McGill's Internships & Student Affairs Office (ISA) engages Field Supervisors to work throughout and beyond the Greater Montreal region to:
- In collaboration with the cooperating teacher:
- Support and mentor Student Teachers, in relation to their development as future educators
- Observe, assess, and evaluate Student Teachers in relation to their progressive development of Professional Competencies, both with oral and written feedback, per an assessment schedule
- Proactively communicate and collaborate with the host school(s), including mediating any potential challenges or obstacles as they arise
- As a representative of McGill University:
- Serve as a liaison between McGill and the host school(s)
- Ensure that ISA and McGill policies and procedures are implemented and enforced
- Verify that the student teaching placement(s) conform to university guidelines
- Eventually, as a seasoned Field Supervisor:
- Mentor and support new Field Supervisors
Required Experience and Other Qualifying Skills And/Or Abilities
Student teaching supervision is a demanding but rewarding role requiring a complex blend of soft skills, knowledge and professionalism. Candidates require:
- Certified to teach in Quebec
- Minimum 5 years of school-based teaching experience in an elementary and/or high school setting, preferably in Quebec
- Deep understanding of the Quebec Education Program including the Subject Competencies, Broad Areas of Learning, and Cross Curricular Competencies as well as and related professional curriculum documents
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to mentor and support student teachers as professional learners
- Ability to deliver quality, constructive feedback designed to improve the pedagogical learning of student teachers
- Strong organizational, interpersonal, communication, and time management skills
- Available during the entire duration of a given Field Experience and/or Internship (Dates and lengths of Field Experiences and Internships can be viewed here.)
- Supervisors do not need to be available for all placements and may indicate availability only for certain placements/terms
- Exceptional professional judgment, an ability to work independently, and an ability to facilitate challenging professional conversations
- Access to reliable transportation and willingness to travel up to 1 hour each way to a host school
- Substantial prior experience as a cooperating teacher to student teachers
- Demonstrated ability and comfort to work in a computerized environment using a variety of systems and new technology, including but not limited to Microsoft Office, email, Adobe Acrobat/Reader (fillable PDFs), webforms/online assessments
- Bilingualism – French/English (written and spoken), an asset
- Ability to exercise authority and accountability in situations of conflict involving multiple parties
The workload per placement will vary by the placement and student. Generally Supervisors can expect to spend 1-2 hours per student during weeks without an official evaluation (e.g. formative assessment, interim/summative report), and 2-4 hours per student during weeks with an official evaluation. The number of students that Supervisors are assigned is based on a number of factors, such as the number of students completing a placement in the given term, and the geographic region(s) that a Supervisor can serve. Supervisors provide their availability and preferred amount of students ahead of each term. Supervisors are not expected to be available all 3 terms (Fall, Winter, Summer).
Supervisors are remunerated with a set rate, calculated per student and provided as a one-time payment. Rates vary by placement. Additional remuneration is provided for trainings and any additional required tasks.
How to Apply
Please submit the following (as PDFs) to Internships Administrator at internships.administrator [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Field%20Supervisor%20Application) :
- Current CV
- Cover Letter
- Completed McGill Field Supervisor Application Form*
*Download the fillable PDF form and save to your computer’s desktop. Important: Do not attempt to fill the PDF out while viewing in the internet browser (e.g. Firefox, Chrome, etc.) as the entries will not save; an individual copy must be downloaded to the computer’s desktop and opened from there in order to save. Important Note for Mac Users: Do not use the Mac Preview application to open and save the forms; your text will not be visible to others. Download Adobe Reader and open the file through this program instead.
We thank all applicants for their interest in McGill University. However, ISA will only contact applicants selected for an interview.
McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify.