College of Education
Student Services
PO Box 4775
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5774
(928) 523-2145
FAX: 523-1168
Copyright © 2006
Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS)
|
Northern Arizona University (NAU) entered into a fall student teaching program with the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) in 1989 when student teachers were assigned to Department of Defense schools located in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and England. In 2001 the NAU student teaching program expanded to the Pacific Region to include schools in Japan and Korea. Starting in 2003 the NAU student teaching opportunities were extended to the spring semester. Presently, NAU student teachers may apply to student teach with DoDDS in the spring or fall semesters. |
|
|
Program Overview....DoDDS is a worldwide education system operated by the Department of Defense in 14 countries. The DoDDS mission is to provide a quality education from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 for the eligible minor dependents of Department of Defense military and civilian personnel on official overseas assignments. DoDDS students and teachers are from among the fifty states. School facilities are generally of a high quality and school supplies are ample. Scores on standardized tests place DoDDS among the most successful school systems in the USA. It is a priority for DoDDS to exceed standards in the National Education Goals. The curriculum in the overseas Department of Defense schools is patterned after the finest educational programs in the United States. Successful student teachers in Department of Defense schools are given special consideration for future employment within its system. Many former NAU students are now teaching in the Department of Defense Dependents Schools. Administrators across the states who have interviewed former DoDDS student teachers for employment have expressed very positive impressions of the students’ maturity and breadth of experience. When to Apply.... Students may apply for an assignment to DoDDS one year prior to the time they are eligible to student teach. This is accomplished at the same time and on the same form required of all NAU Student Teacher candidates. The DoDDS application process is managed by the Office of Student Services within the College of Education. There is no extra tuition charge for student teaching in the DoDDS program. Selection Process....Students who apply for student teaching in DoDDS are scheduled to meet with the Director of Student Services and the DoDDS Coordinator for an overview covering the DoDDS overseas student teaching program. As part of the overview, students are informed of the overseas screening and selection process which is based on three factors: a 30 minute student interview conducted by a panel of COE educators, an assessment form completed by major education professors, and a review of transcripts. Assignment Process....Each student accepted to the DoDDS student teaching program states a preference for a teaching assignment and a school or country to which he/she would like to be assigned. Based on student preferences and openings in DoDDS, the Coordinator locates overseas placements with suitable housing accommodations. The Coordinator remains in close communication with the student until the student has traveled to and has safely arrived at his/her overseas destination. Supervision of Student Teaching....During the assignment overseas, each student teacher is assigned an NAU College of Education supervisor who responds to his/her students’ weekly reports of progress and arranges to provide limited on-site supervision during the middle of the student teachers’ overseas assignments. Length of Assignment....Student teachers in DoDDS generally complete a 16 week program. Those who student teach in the fall report to their respective overseas assignments in the third or fourth week of August to prepare for the opening of Department of Defense schools. Those who student teach in the spring typically report in late January to start at the beginning of the second semester for DoDDS. Travel & Living Expenses....NAU student teachers are responsible for paying their transportation to and from overseas assignments. They also pay for their daily living expenses and their housing costs. Housing accommodations are typically located on the military installations. An upper limit of $500 per month is established for NAU students. Monthly housing costs over the years have ranged from $00.00 to $500. Some of the housing accommodations include cooking facilities and washing/drying machines. Student teachers often take advantage of travel opportunities prior to or just after their overseas assignments. Occasional weekend travel is possible for student teachers; however, it is self-limiting because of the demands on student teachers to be well prepared for their daily instructional responsibilities. Balancing class preparation time with personal travel and recreational activity is expected and usually very well managed by NAU student teachers selected for DoDDS. Additional Information....While on their overseas assignments, student teachers receive temporary military ID cards authorizing them entry to the military installation and affording them certain base/post privileges. Privileges include use of the commissary, BX/PX, clubs, recreation facilities, post office and certain dining establishments. Special Student Teaching Arrangements with Other Universities |
