History of the TEAM ​Model

Eleven volunteer PK-3, Elementary, and Elementary/Special Education majors piloted a full- year student teaching experience in Lincoln Parish from August 2014 – May 2015 at two local elementary schools, Cypress Springs Elementary and Glen View Elementary. Those candidates were each assigned one mentor and began what appeared to be an extended student teaching experienced from 10 weeks to 36 weeks. The Louisiana Department of Education supported this pilot through a Cohort 1 funded program. From fall quarter feedback from the participants, the need for change was evident, and the role of clinical liaison was introduced to the pilot. From January – May 2015, schools were visited bi-weekly by a university clinical liaison that served as a mediator between university, district, and school leaders as well as a constant support for all participants.

​In the spring of 2015, Dr. Amy Vessel, clinical liaison, and Dr. Dawn Basinger, Director of Professional and Clinical Experiences, designed an innovative transformation of the traditional student teaching program at Louisiana Tech University through the establishment of a research-based TEAM Model. TEAM represents the teacher educators and mentors collaboratively preparing new teachers for success in the PK-12 classroom. There is a great appreciation for those educators who were willing to think outside the box in that first-year experience. 
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The first mentor training took place in June 2015, with more than 50 mentors and school leaders in attendance representing Lincoln Parish and Ouachita Parish. Mentors were introduced to the TEAM model and developed clear expectations of all members of the TEAM. Key features of the TEAM model including adaptations of the St. Cloud Co-Teaching Model and the University of Alabama Clinical Master Teacher evaluation process.

The Louisiana Tech Leadership TEAM was also identified, and to this day, all decisions made include the voices of the clinical director, associate dean, dean, and department chair. As the office of clinical experiences was redesigned, the doors of the Clinical Residency Research Center (CRRC) opened in Woodard Hall 214. The purpose of the center is to (1) conduct research to support the TEAM Model clinical residency program, (2) to provide on-going professional development to all members of the TEAM model, especially mentors, and (3) to serve as a support system for all residents, mentors, school leaders, etc., participating in the clinical residency program.

The CRRC also realigned the clinical experience office from the college to the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership. The office is open daily where you can see a reminder of those that made their mark on the establishment of clinical residencies at Louisiana Tech University. The initials of all residents, mentors, school, district, and university faculty that volunteered from 2014-2016 can be found on the main wall, an inspiration from Peter Reynold’s book, The Dot. Each of these individuals “made their mark” on the program and will forever be appreciated for their hard work and dedication toward its success.

The Big Reveal Day, or orientation, for both mentors and residents was established to take place during the first week of August. On this day, mentors and residents learned their assignments for the academic year and residents immediately began assisting in the preparation at the school in the assigned classrooms and attending back-to-school meetings. With the research-based framework in place, the expectations of every TEAM member were clear in the fall of 2015. During the 2015-2016 academic year, 14 residents were placed in Lincoln Parish at Cypress Springs, Glen View Elementary, and Ruston Elementary schools.

By September, residents had specific professional needs, and Table Talks were born. Every month, residents requested specific topics to help them grow professionally. These ranged from behavioral management to differentiation to standards-based assessments. University faculty and district/school leaders were brought to the table to share their expertise with the resident team. It was also a great time for the school resident teams to meet together as a whole to share ideas.

In Ouachita Parish, a small number of secondary practicum candidates volunteered to extend their clinical experience through the academic year, and the first pilot of the secondary program began. With only three candidates in Ouachita Parish and Lincoln Parish, their feedback was pivotal in discovering the necessity for an alternate TEAM model for the secondary programs. Ouachita Parish Schools that participated included Calhoun Middle School, Good Hope Middle School, and West Monroe High School. Cohort 2 funding from Louisiana’s Believe and Prepare program provided funding for this expansion. A unique third TEAM Model was established in Union Parish with mentors supporting first-year residents from a Master of Arts program.

Through multiple state visits to the Louisiana Tech CRRC and TEAM Model classrooms across North Louisiana. Cohort 3 funding was secured to prepare in-depth training for mentors in preparation of the 2016-2017 academic year. The CRRC provided training to more than 100 mentors and school leaders from Lincoln Parish, Claiborne Parish, Ouachita Parish, and Union Parish. Content emphasis was the adoption of the Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching (2013) tool for the TEAM Model evaluation system as well as clear expectations for the school and district leaders in the TEAM Model.

Louisiana Tech University was honored to be visited by Louisiana State Superintendent, John White, during the early spring of 2016. Soon after, the university secured a research grant to establish a mentor effectiveness tool and conduct comparative studies between traditional student teaching and the TEAM Model clinical residency program.

The national edTPA portfolio assessment system was piloted for the first time in the state with over 20 clinical residents and student teachers from March to May. This was a true capstone project demanding careful thought in planning, teaching, assessing, and reflecting measuring student achievement under the direction of the teacher candidate. The idea of virtual mentoring through increased technology in the TEAM model classrooms was also explored and cameras were placed in all classrooms for immediate TEAM support when needed.

Upon the spring 2016 graduation, those teacher candidates that volunteered in the 2015- 2016 clinical residency program were honored by the TEAM Leadership with graduation honor cords and named the first class of Clinical Residency Fellows. Early advisement prepared over 20 elementary teacher candidates to apply for the 2016-2017 clinical residency program with 100% participation. A second year pilot of the secondary program will take place before finalizing the secondary TEAM Model.

In June 2016, the first Clinical Residency Conference was hosted by the CRRC at the Louisiana Tech University Hall with more than 100 mentors, school leaders, district leaders, and Louisiana university clinical faculty in attendance. The CRRC will continue to oversee all clinical residency programs and vigorously seek national funding to conduct research to inform TEAM leaders of best practices. The TEAM Model will continue to transform through new research evidence, and as stated in a recent newspaper article, “lead the state of Louisiana in clinical residency programs.” 

We are now approaching our 10th anniversary of the TEAM Model, and it's never been stronger. Using our own methodology faculty to coach residents and interns throughout their senior year providing regular formal evaluations has really deepened the conversations as well as the professional growth. SWIVL technology has allowed us the opportunity to redesign our model to reach school placement sites across the state.​

​Please contact us if you would like to know more about our TEAM Model - Dr. Amy Vessel ([email protected])