Clinical Practice is the supervised teaching experience completed during the Residency phase of the iteach Georgia program. During Clinical Practice, candidates teach full-time in an approved teaching assignment while receiving ongoing support, mentorship, and formal observations.
Note that in Georgia, the term “Field Experience” refers to a separate 15-hour observation requirement completed outside of the candidate’s regular classroom. This requirement is different from Clinical Practice.
Clinical Practice Overview
Clinical Practice in Georgia includes:
- A two-semester supervised teaching experience
- Ongoing mentorship and coaching
- Formal classroom observations
- A final recommendation for certification by the program
Clinical Practice can be started in the Fall or the Spring semester, and will span throughout two consecutive school semesters.
Support During Clinical Practice
Throughout Residency, candidates receive ongoing support and mentorship from both their school district and the iteach program.
Candidates are supported by a collaborative team that may include:
- An iteach Field Supervisor
- An iteach Instructional Coach
- A School-Based Mentor Teacher
- Campus administration
Throughout Clinical Practice, candidates receive ongoing coaching, feedback, observations, and progress monitoring from both iteach and school-based support staff. This collaborative support system is designed to help candidates grow as educators and successfully complete certification requirements.
Formal Observations During Clinical Practice
Candidates complete a series of formal observations throughout Residency.
iteach Field Supervisor Observations
- 4 formal observations total
- 2 observations each semester
School-Based Mentor Observations
- 6 formal observations total
- 3 observations each semester
Observation Framework
All observations in Georgia use the Evidence-First Observation Framework. Observation results are shared with the candidate and their support team, including school-based and program-based support figures, through the EPiC Dashboard.
Final Clinical Practice Recommendation
At the conclusion of Residency, program officials review the candidate’s overall performance and determine whether the candidate has successfully completed Clinical Practice requirements for program completion and certification recommendation.
Georgia Field Experience Requirement (15 Hours)
In addition to Clinical Practice, Georgia candidates must complete a separate Field Experience requirement during Residency.
This requirement includes:
- 15 total hours of classroom observations
- Observations completed outside of the candidate’s regular classroom
- Experiences across multiple grade bands
Additional Information About the 15-Hour Requirement
- Observation hours may be completed through video observations
- Candidates will receive guidance from the program on how to document hours and reflections