Western Carolina University

One of the goals of the teacher education program is to prepare North Carolina teachers to work with a diverse population of students and in a wide variety of school cultures. To that end, the OFE makes an effort to arrange opportunities for each licensure candidate to experience a variety of school settings and work with students of different races, ethnicities, abilities and socio-economic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Undergraduate degree-seeking candidates in the Teacher Education Program are required to document at least one 7-hour field experience interacting with students in a culturally diverse setting. This experience could occur in the field placement for EDCI 201, PSY 323, SPED 339, ELMG 390, EDMG 411, internship or student teaching. Appropriate experiences outside WCU courses might include participation in culturally diverse camps, tutoring programs, service learning projects or study abroad programs.

For these purposes, schools or classrooms with a minority population of 20% or more of the total school population are considered culturally diverse. Documentation can be a letter from the host institution or, in school settings, the time sheet below here  diversity time sheet..

Schools Meeting Diverse Field Experience Requirements in Partnership School Systems (other NC schools outside the region also meet the requirement.  Check with OFE for qualification information.):

ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS

• Asheville High School
• Asheville Middle School
• Claxton Elementary School 
• Hall Fletcher Elementary
• Ira B. Jones Elementary
• Isaac Dickson Elementary
• Randolph Learning Center 
• School of Inquiry and Life Science
• Vance Elementary School

BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS

• A. C. Reynolds High School
• A. C. Reynolds Middle School
• Avery's Creek Elementary
• Buncombe Community School
• Charles D. Owen Middle School
• Clyde A. Erwin High School
• Clyde A. Erwin Middle School
• Emma Elementary School
• Francine Delany New School for Children (Charter)
• Haw Creek Elementary
• Johnston Elementary
• Oakley Elementary
• Sand Hill - Venable Elementary
• T. C. Roberson High School
• Valley Springs Middle School
• W. D. Williams Elementary
• West Buncombe Elementary
• William W. Estes Elementary
• Woodfin Elementary

HENDERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Apple Valley Middle School
• Balfour Education Center
• Bruce Drysdale Elementary
• Dana Elementary
• East Henderson High School
• Edneyville Elementary
• Flat Rock Middle School
• Fletcher Elementary
• Glenn C. Marlow Elementary
• Henderson County Early College
• Hendersonville High School
• Hendersonville Middle School
• Hillandale Elementary
• North Henderson High School
• Sugarloaf Elemetary 
• Upward Elementary

JACKSON COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Blue Ridge School
• Cullowhee Valley School
• Jackson County School of Alternatives (The HUB)
• Smokey Mountain School (Elementary/Middle School)

MACON COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Cartoogechaye Elementary
• East Franklin Elementary

McDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Eastfield Elementary
• Marion Elementary
• McDowell County Early College

POLK COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Polk Central
• Tryon Elementary

RUTHERFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Chase High School
• Chase Middle School
• East Rutherford High School
• East Rutherford Middle School
• Forest City - Dunbar Elementary
• Forrest W. Hunt Elementary
• R. S. Central High School
• R. S. Middle School
• ROC Rutherford Opportunity Center
• Rutherford Early College High School
• Rutherfordton Elementary
• Spindale Elementary

SWAIN COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Cherokee Extension High School 
• Mountain Discovery School (Charter)
• Swain County East Elementary
• Swain County High School
• Swain County Middle School

TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Brevard Elementary
• Brevard Middle School (Beginning Fall 2011)

YANCEY COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Burnsville Elementary