Director of Field Experience and School Partnerships

Position Details

Position Information


Budget Title
Director of Field Studies


Campus Title
Director of Field Experience and School Partnerships


School/Division
Academic Affairs, Division of


Department
School of Education Office


Staff Sub-Type
Staff & Administration


Salary Level
SL5


Salary Range
$88,000 + depending on experience


Salary Determination


Starting salary rates are based on multiples factors which may include the position's major responsibilities, the applicant's background including education, work experience, and key competencies, the university's strategic priorities, internal peer equity and external market analyses, applicable federal, state, and local laws and negotiated labor contracts.

Position Effort
Full-Time


If Part-Time, enter FTE:

Is this a temporary position?
No


If Temporary, enter End Date:

Position Summary


The Director of Field Experience and School Partnerships (FESP) oversees the placement of teacher candidates in P-12 schools for field experiences and student teaching for all SUNY Cortland teacher education programs and assists FESP staff in making those placements as needed. The Director is responsible for building, expanding and strengthening school partnerships as they relate to P-12 placements. In the School of Education, the Director of FESP is an active member of the Teacher Education Unit who works closely with the dean, associate dean, and the assistant dean for assessment and accreditation in assuring the delivery of high-quality teacher preparation programs across the school and the campus. The position is a 12-month obligation and requires full-time presence on campus.


Starting Salary - $88,000+ depending on experience

Watch this video to learn more about careers at SUNY Cortland:

What makes SUNY Cortland a great place to work?
• Our positions provide predictable salary progressions, and many offer permanency.
• Generous benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, various retirement program options, paid family leave and/or parental leaves, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, long term disability and tuition reimbursement.
• SUNY Cortland prioritizes work-life balance and well-being in all forms. The university's state-of-the-art Student Life Center is free for employees to use, with membership options for families. SUNY Cortland's Child Care Center welcomes the children of employees and community members, as space allows. Alternate work schedules are available with a supervisor's approval.
• Professional development opportunities exist through training, continuing education programs, tuition reimbursement and conference travel, based on funding.
• Cortland County and surrounding areas offer easy access to arts, entertainment, outdoor recreation and much more. Experience Cortland dives deep into the region's offerings

Major Responsibilities

Lead and Support FESP Office Operations

• Articulate a vision that unites FESP team members and define departmental objectives and goals to establish a common purpose, including building an office culture that is supportive, productive and efficient with an emphasis on open communication, collegiality and customer service.
• Provide leadership and support for two office administrative assistants, one Program Aide, and three field placement coordinators, including assign duties based on their roles, adjust assignments as needed, and plan, organize and monitor progress and goal completion.
• Engage in effective staff supervision. Hire, onboard, and train all new staff. Ensure all staff complete required training courses and comply with all university, state and federal policies. Provide staff with clear instructions, regular feedback, and coaching. Communicate performance expectations and goals appropriate to the position. Complete staff performance programs and evaluations in a timely manner. Nurture the development of staff by identifying opportunities for training and career development.
• Act as a liaison between FESP staff and the Dean of the School of Education and relaying information both ways.
• Manage the office budget and oversee the payment of host teacher stipends.
• Oversee the content, scheduling, delivery and assessment of teacher education workshops (CARR/SAVE/DASA) and support the implementation of the college's online coaching program, including the hiring and paying of workshop and program instructors.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with NYSED, AAQEP and SUNY program and policy regulations as they relate to field placements. • Coordinate and lead processes related to the use Watermark for data collection relevant to FESP.

Securing Field Placements

• Oversee and support the completion of field placement process by all three field placement coordinators, including assisting them in recruiting, making and confirming placements as needed in times of high demand and/or short staffing.
• Update and revise as needed all materials and processes related to field placements, including updating canvassing forms and processes for recruiting P-12 host teachers, establishing the student teaching calendar, revising teacher candidate and host teacher handbooks, and updating the FESP office website as needed.
• Serve as the liaison for making student teaching placements in New York City through SUNY's Urban Teacher Education Center and in other non-SUNY Cortland student teaching programs.
• Continually seek feedback from P-12 school and district leaders to streamline the placement process and increase the number and diversity of placements available to teacher candidates.
• Initiate and process the Memorandum of Understanding/Affiliation Agreements as needed with districts pertaining to student teaching and early field placement opportunities for teacher candidates.
• Organize the mandatory Student Teacher Evaluation (STE) Training for all new student teaching supervisors each semester.

Building Partnerships

• Lead and engage college faculty, field placement coordinators, and other campus constituents in the process of building partnerships with P-12 schools.
• Participate as a contributing member of the campus Teacher Education Committee (TEC), including sharing updates regarding FESP activities with TEC members.
• Plan, lead, and facilitate the on-campus Field Experience Advisory Committee (FEAC), which consists of faculty representatives from all teacher education programs on campus, and hold meetings each semester.
• Participate as a contributing member to the all-SUNY Clinical Practices and Partnership Consortium (CPPC), including attending yearly CPPC conferences.
• Oversee the building and strengthening of school partnerships through networks with local and regional schools and by making site visits to P-12 schools, teacher centers, and BOCES events.
• Coordinate teacher recognition efforts to ensure all host teachers and school partners are recognized for their support and mentoring of SUNY Cortland teacher candidates.

Functional and Supervisory Relationships


Reports to the Dean of the School of Education. The Director supervises a staff of six including two office administrative assistants, one Program Aide, and three field placement coordinators. The director must work collaboratively with a variety of constituents and stakeholders both on and off campus including the associate dean in the School of Education, assistant dean for assessment and accreditation, teacher education program coordinators and department chairs, Registrar's Office, Business Office, and Information Resources staff, and area teachers and administrators, and teacher candidates.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in education or related field from a regionally accredited college or university
• Minimum of three years experience in a supervisory position
• Minimum of three years experience as a P-12 classroom teacher or administrator
• Demonstrated experience with communicating clearly both orally and in writing
• Demonstrated experience of working successfully with diverse populations
• Demonstrated experience using current technology tools including Microsoft applications, database management systems, and digital communication applications (Teams, Zoom, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S.) in Education Leadership and/or Ph.D. in Education or related field from a regionally accredited college or university
• New York State teacher or leader certification
• Experience in making clinical and/or internship placements
• Knowledge of teacher education curriculum
• Experience with student record systems and databases
• Experience working at the college level

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Effective organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Strong quantitative skills
• Strong work ethic
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Commitment to inclusive leadership practices
• Demonstrated record of building positive working relationships

About the University


For over 150 years, SUNY Cortland has maintained a proud tradition of preparing highly qualified teachers and educational leaders. Currently, SUNY Cortland prepares the largest number of educators in the SUNY system. The university supports an engaged learning community that is committed to promoting a diversity of thought and experience. We believe that an equitable, inclusive, and diverse campus and curriculum are critical to our educational mission.

A top public university of approximately 6,600 students located in the geographic center of New York State, SUNY Cortland provides accessible, affordable education to students from across the U.S. body. One of 13 comprehensive universities in the State University of New York system, SUNY Cortland prides itself on its rigorous undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences, education, and professional studies. For more than 150 years, SUNY Cortland has provided unmistakable value for students seeking a well-rounded academic, athletic, and social experience. The University ranks among the top campuses in the nation on Money magazine's "Best Colleges for Your Money List," fields a powerhouse Division III athletics program and boasts an impressive network of alumni making a difference in education, business, government, fitness, medicine and many other fields.

EEO Statement


SUNY Cortland is an AA/EEO/ADA employer and encourages applications from women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of underrepresented groups.

Job Close Date

Posting Detail Information


Posting Number
S25093


Review Start Date
04/07/2026


Open Until Filled
Yes


Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting