MS in Education with a specialization in Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation) Program Field Experience Handbook:

Getting Started

Identifying Preferred Placement Sites 

The OFE makes all placements for principal licensure candidates. However, candidates need to submit a Preferred Placement Site Form that identifies local school districts and organizations and provides their contact information. 

Candidates should explore the school district(s) where they would like to complete their field experiences at the required three levels: elementary, middle school/junior high, and high school. Once the candidate has identified their preferred school district(s), the candidate should contact the district office (1) to investigate the district’s policies related to principal candidates completing field experiences in the district, and (2) to request preliminary consideration from the district office to complete field experiences in the school district.

Once candidates have explored and received the preliminary consideration to conduct field experiences in the school district, they must complete the Preferred Placement Site Form. The Preferred Placement Site Form is located in the ePortfolio and is due during the first course,

MEDU 6002 - Foundations: Educational Leadership and Administration. Failure to complete the form by the deadline will result in a hold being placed on the candidate’s record and will prevent the candidate from beginning their first field experience and accompanying courses, MEDU 6202 - Ensuring Quality Education for Students With Diverse Needs and MEDU 6801, the first field experience course. Once the candidate completes the form and their first field experience placement is secured, the candidate will be registered for the next offering of MEDU 6202 and MEDU 6801.

Upon receiving the completed Preferred Placement Site Form, the OFE will attempt to place the candidate in a district listed on the form, and enter into an affiliation agreement with the preferred district..  The district must agree to host a candidate and the affiliation agreement must be finalized and fully signed before a placement is considered approved. Placement at a preferred site is not guaranteed. The OFE will, however, make every effort to place candidates according to their indicated preferences, provided the site meets program requirements.

Some placement sites or schools may require candidates to submit a résumé as well as complete an in-person interview before the site, school, or district agrees to host them. Thus, the OFE may submit a candidate’s résumé to the potential placement sites. Interviews may be arranged in one of three ways: a principal or director may make direct contact, the OFE may set up the interview, or the school district office may set up the interview. 

Some placement sites may also require additional information such as an official transcript, an application, a criminal background check and/or proof of tuberculosis (TB) clearance or other immunization records. When this occurs, the candidate must fulfill the requirements immediately to ensure placement. Failure to fulfill the placement site’s requirements before the experience is scheduled to begin will result in a delayed placement and may require the candidate to postpone registration in the accompanying course(s) until the next offering. 

Once a placement has been confirmed, the OFE will notify the candidate of their placement site by emailing the candidate’s Walden email address. All email communication between the OFE and teacher candidates will take place via the Walden email server, per university policy.

Note: Walden University does not guarantee candidates will be placed in a district listed as preferred on the Preferred Placement Site Form. The university also does not guarantee that it will be able to enter into an affiliation agreement with a particular site. Candidates must accept the placement confirmed by the OFE, or they can choose to defer field experience to a later term.  

Walden is committed to providing candidates with resources and support in preparation of field experiences. To help ease anxiety in the field experience process, Walden offers a 0-credit Field Experience Preparation course, a structured experience that guides candidates through the application process and currently available readiness resources. The course is designed to complement other pre-requisite courses needed in preparation for field experiences. There may be reasons why a field experience course needs to be postponed, or the readiness course may not be needed if a field experience opportunity has already been secured. In this instance, students may opt-out of the preparation course. 

Requesting a Change in Placement

Candidates who wish to update their preferred placement to a different location must contact the OFE to do so at least one term before the field placement is scheduled to begin. If the request is not made by the start of the term preceding the placement start date, the candidate may need to drop the associated field experience course(s) for the upcoming term.

Note: If a candidate relocates to another state, the relocation may impact the candidate’s ability to complete field experiences and/or to obtain professional licensure, certification, or other credential in that state. Candidates are advised to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate.

Professional Liability Insurance

Many school districts require educators working in their public schools to carry professional liability insurance. Walden University requires all principal candidates to show proof of professional liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence, which covers them as a student during all field experiences. Candidates are responsible for completing the Proof of Professional Liability Insurance Form, which includes documentation of the coverage,

by the second week of MEDU 6802. Candidates may be required to renew their professional liability insurance, so it is in effect throughout all field experiences in the program. Examples of the documentation required include an insurance certificate, documentation from a professional organization confirming membership, or documentation from the school district in which a candidate is employed, when applicable. The Proof of Professional Liability Insurance Form is located in the ePortfolio. 

Failure to submit the form by the end of the second week in MEDU 6201 - Communication and Collaboration for Leaders will result in the cancellation of the candidate’s registration for MEDU  6202 and MEDU 6801, the first field experience course. Once the candidate completes the form and their first field experience placement is secured, the candidate will be registered for the next offering of MEDU 6202 and MEDU 6801. The courses are offered every 12 weeks.

If a candidate does not have professional liability insurance, Walden University suggests they research professional organizations that may offer discounted professional liability coverage as a benefit to its student members. For example, the Association of American Educators (AAE; www.aaeteachers.org/insurance.shtml) is a professional organization that offers liability insurance, as well as other membership benefits that candidates may want to consider. 

Criminal, Sex Offender, and Other Background Checks

Although the Riley College does not require principal candidates to submit a background and sex offender check, candidates must self-inform if these are necessary in the state for which they are seeking licensure. Each site may have different requirements, so it is important for candidates to discuss this issue with each of their sites as soon as they are notified by the OFE of impending placements. 

Proof of Immunization and TB Clearance

Some placement sites will require recent proof of TB clearance and immunization to specified diseases. Candidates should be prepared to provide TB clearance and immunization documentation, as needed.

Completing Field Experience Requirements in Conjunction With Current Teaching Positions 

Candidates who are currently teaching may be able to complete a portion of the field experience requirements in their own schools. However, candidates will need to seek permission from their administrator and district office to do so, and they will need to indicate their preferences on the Preferred Placement Site Form. In addition, all field experiences sites must be approved by the OFE prior to beginning. 

If a candidate seeking principal licensure is unable to complete some of the administrative activities within the regular school day, then they may need to schedule a field experience during summer in their district or another district. Candidates should note that each district will have its own set of requirements, and candidates are advised to review program expectations/competencies in the Field Experience Handbook with the administrator and district. This will ensure the district can provide the opportunities to meet program requirements.

Situational Observations

Principal Mentors will conduct situational observations of Walden candidates in their field experience settings. Examples of appropriate situations include, but are not limited to, leading a faculty meeting, a curriculum development grade-level meeting, or the school leadership council; facilitating a parent meeting; conducting a learning walk-through; and facilitating a budget meeting. The principal mentor will complete a Field Experience Evaluation based on these situational observations and the candidate’s overall performance in the field setting. Candidates reflect on these experiences and the mentors’ feedback and debrief with their principal mentors, field experience course faculty, and peers.