The Fitness to Teach Criteria
The Fitness to Teach criteria were developed by the College of Education at the University of Arizona and apply to all people planning to be certified to teach Art.
All students in The University of Arizona Initial Teacher Preparation program (ITP) are expected to demonstrate that they are prepared to teach children and youth. This preparation results from the combination of successful completion of University coursework and the demonstration of important human characteristics and dispositions which teachers should possess. All ITP students are screened throughout their program according to the criteria below. If all criteria are not met, students may be denied the opportunity to student teach. Without successful completion of student teaching, the University does not recommend students for Arizona teacher certification.
1. Academic Achievement:
The College of Education requires a 2.50 minimum GPA for undergraduate students. Graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.
2. Human Characteristics and Dispositions
a. Personal and Professional Demeanor
- Teachers must demonstrate positive personal hygiene habits.
- Teachers must dress appropriately for their professional contexts.
- Teachers must demonstrate the personal interactive attributes that are required for successful professional teaching. These attributes include openness to innovative ways of teaching, the ability to accept and act upon reasonable criticism, enthusiasm for working with colleagues, the ability to understand others' perspectives about teaching, the ability to separate personal and professional issues, a display of a positive attitude toward colleagues and students, a disposition to act always for the benefit of students, and a perspective on teaching and learning that embraces ethnic, cultural, and developmental diversity.
b. Cultural and Social Attitudes and Behavior
- Teachers must exhibit respect for peers, colleagues, and students.
- Teachers must be willing to look beyond self in their interactions with others and to respect differences of race, ethnicity, social class, national allegiance, and cultural heritage.
- Teachers must be able to work productively with their peers and colleagues.
- Teachers must be able to speak in a manner appropriate to the context of the classroom.
Teachers must demonstrate positive social skills in professional and social interactions with peers, colleagues, and students.
3. Cognitive Dispositions
- Teachers must think analytically about educational issues.
- Teachers must be thoughtfully reflective about their own practice.
- Teachers must be flexible, open to new ideas, and willing and able to modify their beliefs and practices.
- Teachers must question and test their assumptions about teaching and schooling.
- Persons with disabilities, who, with or without reasonable accommodation, are able to complete the essential requirements of the program will not be discriminated against because of their disabilities. Information concerning the accommodation policy can be obtained in the Office of Student Teaching, Education 702.
