Brianna Ware holding a Buffalo State flag

Mentor Teacher Resources

Buffalo State values the input and expertise of our Mentor/Cooperating Teachers.  Though our candidates receive a grade and final evaluation score from the College Supervisor, we rely on feedback from our school partners to inform our decisions.  We also view Mentor/Cooperating feedback as an important formative assessment that contributes to the successful preparation of our candidates.  These resources assist our partners in using the instruments effectively, offer guidance on follow-up procedures, and provide a vehicle for overall program feedback.

Mentor Teacher Handbooks

Visit the Faculty Resources page for handbooks and templates. Visit specific department student teaching sites for handbooks and additional mentor resources.

Student Teacher Evaluation Tool

Use our practicum/student teaching evaluation tool to evaluate your assigned candidate. Submission due dates can be confirmed with the college supervisor. In addition, we have provided some details surrounding the contents and implementation of the evaluation tool. Please review the scoring guidelines and the informational video for further insight. You will need a PASSWORD and your candidate's Buffalo State email address to begin the evaluation. Your Buffalo State University Supervisor or Field Experience Coordinator can assist you.

Fall 2025 Evaluation Link

This link is used for all placements for both the midpoint and final evaluation. 
The evaluation is PASSWORD PROTECTED. 

Guidance on Using the Student Evaluation Tool

The mentor's evaluation of candidates is based on a thoroughly researched and vetted evaluation rubric that is used by the College Supervisor.  This rubric is aligned with the Buffalo State Teacher Preparation Program Conceptual Framework and the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) Standard Model Core Teaching Standards, each specialized professional association's standards, and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Standards.  The evaluations are also aligned with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards. 

The mentor evaluation tool is a survey-styled version of this rubric and is completed online via the links below. When completing this evaluation, please consider the range of instructional delivery modalities. Components on this evaluation can apply to both face to face as well as virtual clinical practice.

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES

  • Score of 4 (EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS)
  • Score of 3 (MEETS EXPECTATIONS)
  • Score of 2 (APPROACHING EXPECTATIONS)
  • Score of 1 (DOES NOT MEET EXPECTATIONS)
  • "NOT YET OBSERVED" is not available on the final evaluation.

A score of 2 should be viewed as a "teachable moment" for the assessor. In this case, the assessor should meet with the candidate to discuss the behaviors that warranted the score and to clarify expectations.

A score of 1 warrants a meeting with the candidate, but also requires the completion of a Candidate Consultation Form so that the Buffalo State Teacher Education Unit can develop a plan to help the candidate improve. Candidate Consultation Forms can be found in the Student Teaching Handbook. For more information about these processes and/or this assessment, please contact the department chair.

Student Evaluation Tool Printable Templates

NOTE: These are final evaluation templates. Midpoint evaluations are only different in that they allow an "N/A" option for each criteria. The evaluation is completed online. The printable versions below are available for reference only. 

Video: Purpose, Administration, and Evaluation of Dispositions and Practicum/Student Teaching Evaluation