Professional Year Resources & Placement Information

The Professional Year at the Faculty of Education at Lakehead goes beyond fulfilling the course requirements to qualify for an Education Degree and Ontario teacher certification.  The supplemental activities described here provide opportunities for additional professional growth to enhance your resume and teaching portfolio. We hope you will be able to take advantage of many of them.

The Professional Year experience is one of practice, reflection, discussion and interaction so attendance in class is important.  If you are planning to be away for extended periods of time between September and May or know that you will not be able to attend regularly because of work or family commitments, withdraw until a time in which you will be able to give your full attention to the job of becoming a teacher.

If, during the year, you become sick or experience tragedy, provide documentation of your circumstances and arrange to return when you are able.  Illness or emergency does not negate the necessity for completing course requirements, it only postpones the process until such time as the student is ready to go on.

Student teaching in elementary and secondary schools is arranged on an individual basis by the Faculty. Teacher candidates may be required to student teach for one session in a school system in northwestern Ontario outside of Thunder Bay.  

Teacher candidates on placements must maintain the high professional standards expected of all teachers.  The University recognizes the role of members of the teaching profession in the education of teachers.  This role includes member contributions to the recommendation of candidates for certification on the basis of student teaching performance.