Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 vaccine roll out process has led to many questions about whether our faculty and teacher candidates who are involved in field experiences will be permitted to get their vaccinations sooner, in phase 1b with teachers and school personnel.

Advocacy for this has occurred at multiple levels -  Dean L'Esperance is working with the University Health Center who is advocating for our faculty and students and our local VDH Vaccine Coordinator to elevate these persons to be vaccinated in phase 1B.  Concurrently, the Virginia Deans and Directors group in collaboration with VACTE are working with Dr. James Lane to request school divisions offer the vaccine to field experience students.  Some school divisions have already offered this possibility on their own, e.g. Fairfax is intending to vaccinate student teachers and Rockingham is doing a survey of practicum and student teachers to understand how many additional vaccines they would need and if they have capacity to offer this opportunity.

As we have more information, we will make sure you are informed.  In the interim, we are expecting our students to continue in field experiences in the same way they did in the fall.  The possibility of a vaccine has not changed any expectations for masking, social distancing, daily health checks and hygiene, and students will need to continue to abide by the same instructional modality as their cooperating teachers.

We are hopeful that we will have more information soon.  Please feel free to contact me at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or Dean L'Esperance at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> with questions.

Best,
Dara

Dara Hall, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Teacher Education and Student Success
Education Support Center, Memorial Hall 7230/40
JMU College of Education
540-568-2996


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