University of Kentucky College of Education
to get along well with others and leadership skills
when she interviews candidates.
Joni Meade, an elementary education faculty
member who organized the event, said she hears
from principals that the mock interviews are not
only beneficial to the UK students, but also to
the principals in getting to meet so many new
candidates.
The seminar was not the students’ first contact
with area schools. They spend many hours
at schools during observations, practicums,
volunteer opportunities and student-teaching.
“Many students visit our school from the
College of Education,” Hutchison said. “I feel a
responsibility to provide them the opportunity
to develop their craft and to demonstrate to
them how an effective school operates and good
teachers teach. I want them to see what it takes to
be a teacher in today’s society. I want the students
who leave my school to say ‘that is a place I want
to work.’”
Several students provided feedback about the
applications and interviews seminar:
“With our graduation from UK’s College of Education fast
approaching, it was helpful to be able to talk with local principals and
other school officials about what they are looking for in new teachers.
They were all very encouraging and were willing to answer any questions
we had. I learned several new tips to remember as I begin looking for
jobs.”
—Sarah-Kate Vaught
“I would like to share how helpful today was! The University of
Kentucky College of Education gives us all of the tools necessary to
thrive and succeed in the field of education. It feels great to have the
support from our mentors and the community of the program behind
us as we go from student to teacher. I am thrilled to begin my journey
after graduation and the interviewing and hiring session gave me the
confidence I need to find my place in the district. I am so thankful to be a
part of the education program at UK!”
—Laryssa Oldham
“Today was extremely beneficial for all of us who are graduating
in the hopes of getting a job for next year. It was nice to be able to ask
questions to administration from all over the county and practice for a
real interview.”
—Rachel Allen
Picadome Elementary principal Jennifer Hutchison talks with UK College of Education students
about getting hired for teaching positions.
CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION
Session with Principals Helps Prepare
Students for Job Interviews
Several Lexington principals and school leaders recently
played a role in helping prepare elementary education
graduates for job interivews.
A seminar was held at Veterans Park Elementary in April
where students learned about the application and interview
process from Amy McVey, principal of Veterans Park, and
Cindy Godsey, human resources associate director at Fayette
County Public Schools.
The students then broke into smaller groups to participate
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COE COMMUNICATOR | OCTOBER 2016
in mock interviews with principals who had volunteered their
time.
“I hope the student teachers gained some insight into what
is sometimes a scary and intimidating process,” said Jennifer
Hutchison, principal of Picadome Elementary. “Hopefully,
by asking us questions about the process, we can lessen
the anxiety so they can relax and be themselves during the
interview process.”
Hutchison said she looks for a growth mindset, the ability
Henry Part of Educators’ Webinar
Dr. Laurie Henry, associate dean for clinical preparation and partnerships in the
University of Kentucky College of Education, was recently part of a webinar for the
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). The webinar, “Advancing
Educator Preparation Through Clinical Practice: The Dean’s Perspective,” is archived online
at https://secure.aacte.org/apps/rl/res_get.php?fid=2936&ref=rl. The panelists included:
• Dean John Henning, Monmouth University (NJ)
• Associate Dean Laurie Henry, University of Kentucky
• Dean Shirley Lefever, Wichita State University (KS)
• Assistant Dean Christy Smith, University at Albany-SUNY
• Dean Diane Yendol-Hoppey, University of North Florida
Each of these deans is also a member of the AACTE Clinical Practice Commission. During
the webinar, they discussed their roles as leaders in clinical practice at their institutions, how
that perspective informs their work on the commission, and why they have chosen to be
involved. More specifically, they addressed:
• Building strong school-university-community partnerships
• Developing effective clinical preparation strategies
• Engaging resources to support clinical practice models
• Fostering a culture in higher education that supports and rewards clinical practice
• Establishing a reciprocal process of simultaneous renewal to advance teaching and
learning for PK-12 students and teachers, as well as teacher candidates and university
faculty
Dr. Laurie Henry
COE COMMUNICATOR | OCTOBER 2016
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