Program Manager, Practicum (Secondary)

University of British Columbia

9d ago

Applications are closed

Job
Full-time
Mid & Senior Level
People, HR & Administration
Education & Teaching
Vancouver

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of four to five years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Preference is given to candidates with a graduate degree in a relevant discipline.
Extensive knowledge of and familiarity with the BC school system.
Experience with educational technologies and/or administration is an asset.
Experience providing mentorship in educational settings.
Ability to create strong networks with K-12 educators and administrators.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other professionals in the Teacher Education Office.
Ability to prioritize tasks and work effectively under pressure.
Strong listening skills, respectfulness in interactions, and a commitment to transparency.
Excellent management and organizational abilities.
Commitment to promoting Indigenous perspectives and supporting Indigenous students.
Stay informed about current issues affecting Indigenous education, including relevant policies, legislation, and community needs.

Responsibilities

- Analyzes key performance indicators each term and evaluates the program's overall success annually. Based on both qualitative and quantitative data, proposes program changes to the Associate Dean of Teacher Education and implements necessary adjustments in collaboration with the Associate Dean, Director, and other Program Managers to ensure the program meets its strategic objectives.
- Collaborates closely with all Program Managers to ensure optimal synergy in the delivery of services across all Teacher Education Office (TEO) practicum programs.
- Engages in partnerships with other units within the Faculty of Education and across the university to enhance the practicum programs and create new opportunities for students.
- Strategically collaborates with other university practicum programs in BC, Canada, and internationally to improve the Teacher Education program. Actively participates in provincial and national education associations to research best practices in practicum programs.
- Works collaboratively with other Program Managers and staff to oversee the strategic growth and development of practicum experiences, ensuring alignment with the initiatives of the Teacher Education Office.
- Builds and maintains relationships with key stakeholders, including local school districts, government agencies, ministries of education, and the private sector. Seeks their advice, perspectives, and support to foster stronger connections between the University and the external community.
- Conducts site visits to practicum hosts and gathers feedback to assess the overall effectiveness of the practicum program, keeping current with educational trends and future employer requirements.
- Addresses workplace safety concerns, employment issues (including harassment and employment equity), intellectual property rights, and confidentiality matters raised by practicum students and/or employers.
- Sets educational standards for practicum delivery to meet BC Teacher Council standards, the Faculty of Education’s academic goals, students' educational objectives, and employer needs. Contributes to the ongoing accreditation of the program every two years.
- Develops and enforces policies regarding student discipline, adjudicates student appeals, and advises coordinators and school administrators on performance issues during practicum placements. Oversees these processes to ensure resolution.
- Directs the development of annual pre-practicum workshops to meet BC Teacher Council standards and address the needs of students and school districts.
- Manage practicum placements for over 370 secondary teacher candidates, including those in the professional updating program and those repeating their year. This involves:
- Negotiating with district and school administrators to secure school advisors throughout the Lower Mainland.
- Hiring, preparing, and monitoring a large team of part-time faculty advisors, matching them with teacher candidates, and assessing their performance.
- Securing placements at International Baccalaureate (IB) schools for teacher candidates in the IB Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme cohorts.
- Coordinating practica for visiting exchange students, often from international programs.
- Building and maintaining relationships with Lower Mainland school district personnel to collaborate on practicum placements and professional learning activities.
- Coordinate specific accommodations for practicum candidates with the Teacher Regulation Branch and the Center for Accessibility for those requiring support.
- Deliver monthly large-group seminars to prepare teacher candidates and faculty advisors for practicum, and lead orientation and ongoing professional development sessions for 75 faculty advisors.
- Assign faculty advisors to supervise teacher candidates, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations.
- Review all final reports submitted by faculty advisors and recommend a Pass or Fail grade for each practicum on behalf of the Associate Dean of Teacher Education.
- Collaborate with software developers to create and continually improve an electronic observation and reporting system, providing ongoing feedback and revisions.
- Co-manage an annual budget of approximately $200,000 from UBC Central for recognizing school-based practicum supervisors, including offering tuition fee certificates, recognition gifts, and incentives to school district partners and advisors.
- Establish funding partnerships and associated budgets for the academic year.
- Seek and secure innovative funding opportunities to support student travel and housing, such as from the Centre for Community-Engaged Learning or Rix donor funding.
- Create, update, and post all practicum materials on the school advisor blog, maintain the Canvas site for teacher candidates and faculty advisors, and participate in producing promotional videos to showcase the practicum program to prospective BEd applicants.
- Analyze survey data from teacher candidates to inform and improve practicum practices.
- Meet with individual students in the program to provide career advice and guidance while they are on Practicum.
- Counsel students before, during, and after their practicum, addressing complex cases involving medical, mental health, financial, or familial challenges.
- Develop action plans to help students strengthen their knowledge and skills before attempting a second practicum.
- Advise teacher candidates in navigating complex relational and situational issues during their practicum. Ensure that candidates receive due process regarding placements, supplemental practica, failures, deferrals, and appeals. Counsel those who withdraw or fail in their practicum placement, and mediate discussions between school advisors, teacher candidates, faculty advisors, and administrators when concerns arise.
- Participate in program advising for teacher candidates facing challenges during the program.
- Provide relevant information to committees involved in student appeals.
- Promote UBC's Teacher Education Program at district and provincial committee levels.
- Share practicum advances and innovations at BC and Western Canadian conferences.
- Advise the admissions team on special applications to the BEd Program, as needed.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Dean of Teacher Education.

FAQs

What is the primary role of the Program Manager, Practicum (Secondary)?

The primary role of the Program Manager, Practicum (Secondary) is to design, implement, and evaluate the practicum component of UBC's Teacher Education Program for Secondary education, ensuring it meets the needs of teacher candidates and their future employers.

What qualifications are required for this position?

The minimum qualifications include an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline and four to five years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Are there any preferred qualifications for candidates?

Yes, preference is given to candidates with a graduate degree in a relevant discipline, extensive knowledge of the BC school system, and experience providing mentorship in educational settings.

What kind of experience is needed for this role?

Candidates should have experience in educational settings, familiarity with educational technologies, and strong networks with K-12 educators and administrators.

What is the compensation range for this position?

The compensation range for the Program Manager, Practicum (Secondary) is between $7,283.75 and $10,474.08 CAD monthly.

How many teacher candidates does the Program Manager oversee?

The Program Manager oversees practicum placements for over 370 secondary teacher candidates.

Is there an emphasis on diversity and inclusion in this position?

Yes, the position emphasizes the importance of respecting diverse perspectives and a commitment to enhancing awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

What are some key responsibilities of the Program Manager?

Key responsibilities include negotiating practicum placements, advising and mentoring teacher candidates, faculty advisors, and school advisors, and ensuring the overall effectiveness of the practicum program.

Will the Program Manager have autonomy in their role?

Yes, the Program Manager works with considerable autonomy and reports to the Director of the Teacher Education Office.

What are the working hours for this position?

Specific working hours are not mentioned, but the role requires flexibility and may include coordinating with school districts, which can happen outside of traditional hours.

University of British Columbia

Education

Industry

10,001+

Employees

Mission & Purpose

The University of British Columbia is a public research university in British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1908 as the McGill University College of British Columbia, the university became independent and adopted its current name in 1915