Aspiring Educator & Clinical Placement Program

To be eligible for a student or clinical placement within Round Lake Area Schools District 116, candidates must meet the following criteria:

1. Approved Enrollment: Active enrollment in an accredited collegiate program leading to educator licensure or clinical certification.

2. Active District Agreement: A valid university affiliation contract must be established with the District before any candidate can be considered.

Submission Checklist for Institutional Coordinators:

• Formal Placement Letter (Must include: student name, placement type, exact start/end dates, required hours, and target discipline/grade level).

• Student Resume

• Unofficial Transcripts (Required for student teaching and graduate-level clinical internships).

• Confirmation/Evaluation Forms required by the university.

All formal placement requests must be submitted electronically by the student's educational institution. Please direct all official inquiries and required documentation to our Human Resources Specialist:

• Contact: Lori Placek, Human Resources Specialist

• Email: lplacek@rlas-116.org

Note: School staff and building administrators are not authorized to approve placements independently. Any request received at the building level will be redirected to the Human Resources department to ensure all district and university compliance requirements are met.

To ensure optimal matching with our certified staff and clinicians, Round Lake Area Schools District 116 reviews placement requests during designated windows. Early submissions are highly encouraged.

• Fall Placements (First Semester): Requests are accepted from March 15 to May 1.
  - Fall placements are prioritized and considered first

• Winter/Spring Placements (Second Semester): Requests are accepted from September 15 to November 1.
  ​​​​​​​- Because our mentor availability is established early in the year, institutions are welcome    to submit winter/spring requests ahead of this window.

• Short-Term Observation Requests: Must be submitted at least 15 business days prior to the student's required assignment start date.

Once a formal request is received from an academic institution, the Human Resources department utilizes a collaborative process to evaluate and finalize placements.

1. Review & Interview Process

Placements are granted based on the availability of qualified mentor staff/clinicians, school building capacity, and a successful interview.

• Review: Application materials are forwarded to building administrators and potential cooperating staff members for review.

• Interview: Candidates may be contacted to complete an interview with the building administrator and/or potential mentor.

• Confirmation: Once an agreement is reached between HR, the building administrator, and the mentor, HR will officially confirm or deny the placement directly with the university placement coordinator.

2. Pre-Placement Requirements

All approved candidates must have the following clearances on file with the Human Resources department prior to their first day in the District:

• Background Check: A fingerprint background check completed at the Round Lake Area Schools District Office.

• Physical Exam: A physical examination performed by a licensed healthcare provider certifying that the individual is healthy and free of communicable disease.

• Mandatory Training: Verification of completed online training tutorials via the Global Compliance Network (GCN).

• District Onboarding: Completion of all required District onboarding forms.

Our program's success relies on the dedication of our certified staff and licensed clinicians. We invite exemplary professionals across all disciplines to partner with us in shaping the next generation of school-based professionals.

Who is Eligible to Mentor?

Staff and clinicians volunteering to serve as a Cooperating Teacher or Clinical Mentor must meet the following criteria:

• Licensure & Experience: Possess a valid professional license in their respective field and meet ISBE or relevant national/state licensing board requirements regarding years of experience.

• Professional Excellence: Demonstrate exemplary professional practice, strong evaluative judgment, and a willingness to provide constructive, growth-oriented feedback.

• Objective Environment: Maintain a professional relationship with the candidate to ensure an objective, unbiased training and evaluation environment.

• Voluntary Engagement: Serving as a mentor is completely voluntary, and assignments are typically limited to one comprehensive placement per school year.

How the Process Works

To ensure an organized matching process, Human Resources establishes an active mentor roster prior to each school year:

1. Submit Your Interest: Each spring, staff will receive a Cooperating Teacher & Clinical Mentor Interest Form. Completing this brief survey indicates your interest and establishes your preliminary eligibility.

2. Collaborative Selection: HR works in close partnership with building administration to review interest forms and finalize matches based on university requests and building capacity.

3. Commitment to Program Growth: To help us continuously improve our placement program, all active mentors agree to complete a brief feedback survey at the conclusion of their student’s placement.

Round Lake Area Schools District 116 is incredibly proud to support the ongoing professional growth of our own staff members!

If you are a current district employee pursuing an advanced degree or certification and require a student teaching, clinical internship, or practicum placement, please log in to the RLAS Employee Intranet to review the application process, eligibility guidelines, and timeline requirements.