Office of Clinical Experiences
Clinical experiences are a vital part of teacher preparation, connecting coursework with real classroom practice. These experiences allow candidates to work with diverse students, observe effective teaching, and build their own skills under the guidance of experienced mentors. Through placements in various settings, candidates gain the adaptability, resilience, and empathy needed to succeed. These opportunities bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring future teachers are well-prepared for student teaching and beyond.
Candidates complete clinical placements across grade levels, school settings and communities, with placements arranged to broaden each candidate’s experience before student teaching.
For more details about Clinical Experiences, go to the Pre-Student Teaching page.
For Cooperating Teachers and Principals
The Office of Clinical Experiences works with school administrators and district liaisons to coordinate placements and select qualified cooperating teachers. Cooperating teachers must hold a current teaching license appropriate to the placement, have at least three years of successful teaching experience and demonstrate effective instruction and mentoring skills or potential. All placements require principal approval. Administrators may download the form below.
For School Administrators: Nominate a Cooperating Teacher
Help prepare the next generation of educators by nominating qualified teachers to mentor University of Montana candidates during pre-student teaching clinical experiences, student teaching or both.
Our Cooperating Teacher Nomination Form outlines the teaching experience, licensure, instructional effectiveness and mentoring qualities we seek. A nomination does not commit a teacher to hosting a candidate. The Office of Clinical Experiences will contact nominated teachers to discuss their interest and availability before confirming a placement.
Download the Cooperating Teacher Nomination Form (fillable)
Please email completed forms or questions to Megan Bilant at megan.bilant@mso.umt.edu or Codi Jean Nigh at codijean.nigh@mso.umt.edu.