These are the steps Salem-Keizer Public Schools, Partner Institutions, and students can expect during the practicum placement process.
1. Partner Institution Initiates a Placement Request
- Partnering post-secondary schools that have a current Practicum Student Placement Agreement (contract) with our district may submit practicum placement requests.
- If your school does not yet have an agreement with us, please reach out to the Practicum Placement Office to begin the process.
- All requests must be submitted by a partner institution to the district’s Human Resources Practicum Placement Office.
- Requests must align with the program’s placement criteria.
- We are not able to accept individual requests.
- Please do not contact schools, departments, or potential mentors directly. This includes individuals and current Salem-Keizer employees.
- Once a practicum inquiry has been sent to the district’s Practicum Placement Office, the partnering post-secondary school will sign a contract with Salem-Keizer Public Schools Risk Management.
2. Student Eligibility is Determined
- Prior to confirmation of a practicum placement, all practicum students will need to:
- Practicum placements include, but are not limited to:
- Full-time practicum
- Part-time practicum
- Adding an endorsement
- Observation - Including pre-requisite program admission requirements
- These placements may be allowed to take place as a volunteer and outside of a formal placement confirmation, per direction from the Practicum Placement Office
3. Confirmation of Student Placement
Once a practicum placement has been confirmed, an email notification will be sent to the school or department supervisor, cooperating mentor, office manager, and university coordinator.
All placement decisions are made by the Practicum Placement Office based on input and feedback from Salem-Keizer Public Schools employees and their supervisors. While specific requests from post-secondary institutions may be considered, placements are not guaranteed based on these preferences
Important Reminders:
- No practicum placement should begin without prior written confirmation from the Practicum Placement Office.
- If a practicum student arrives on site without this confirmation, the supervisor or office manager must immediately contact the Practicum Placement Office.
4. Technology & Site Access
Once a practicum placement has been confirmed, we will initiate a helpdesk ticket to provide students with:
- A Salem-Keizer district email address
- Students - Check your personal email for a message from Salem-Keizer Public Schools with your assigned district email address and login instructions.
- ID badge access to primary assigned practicum site
- If a cooperating mentor travels to a secondary district location during the day, the practicum student may accompany them. To access a secondary site, the student must buzz in at the main entrance and sign in at the front office.
- Students - Once you receive your Salem-Keizer email address, your university will provide instructions on how to pick up your district ID badge. A valid photo ID is required for badge pickup.
Key Distribution:
- Practicum students should be issued keys by the office manager, following the same procedures used for substitute staff.
Technology Use Guidelines:
- District devices are not issued to practicum students. Since all district programs are web-based, students may use their personal device.
- Practicum students should never use a district employee’s login credentials or access any system through another person's account.
- In rare cases, and based on availability, a Chromebook may be checked out for in-building use only. This must be coordinated through the site's existing staff / substitute inventory.
Access to District Systems:
- If access to Synergy (grading and attendance) is necessary—typically only applicable to student teachers beyond the observation phase—the Office Manager or Registrar may submit a service request to grant access.
5. End of Placement Wrap-Up
At the end of each placement, the practicum student, cooperating mentor, and Office Manager will receive an automated email as a reminder to turn in any district property to the Office Manager. This includes items such as:
- Keys
- Chromebook, if applicable
- ID Badge
- If this is your last practicum placement, your badge will need to be turned into the Office Manager.
- If it is not your last placement in the district, you will keep your badge and it will be given access to your next placement location.