Credentials and Portfolios

During your job search, a school may ask for your credentials and portfolio. What they are looking for is evidence of professional knowledge and practice in the categories of:

• Planning and Preparation
• Classroom Environment
• Instructional Delivery
• Professionalism
• Intellectual Growth and Diversity

At Keystone, we require that you begin preparing your credentials and portfolio to become formally accepted into the education program, and before you can begin taking 3000-4000 level classes.

Keystone College uses Live Text which provides a secure storage place for your portfolio. For a moderate fee, you can use the Live Text portfolio preparation tool for electronically developing, managing, storing and assessing the work that will be used while preparing to become a teacher.

“Must Have” Documentation

Your credential portfolio must contain the following items and will be submitted via LiveText. All uploads should be in PDF format, and INCOMPLETE PORTFOLIOS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

1. Current Resume

You will need to develop your resume in collaboration with Keystone College Career Services. 

2. Clearances

• Act 34 PA State Police Criminal History Record clearance
• Act 151 PA Child Abuse History clearance
• Act 114 Federal Criminal History & Fingerprint clearance
• Act 24 Arrest/Conviction Certification Form
• Act 126 Child Abuse Recognition & Reporting (Mandated Reporter) training
• National Sex Offender Registry
• Current First Aid and CPR certification
• Health appraisal, including evidence of current negative TB test

3. Credentials

• Two Professional Skills & Dispositions Checklist forms (from Keystone faculty), or
• One Professional Skills & Dispositions Checklist form (from Keystone faculty) plus one Letter of Recommendation (from Keystone faculty or someone else such as a cooperating teacher or other professional)
• Note: all letters of recommendation must be on official school letterhead and signed with a handwritten/digital signature, not a typed signature, and dated within one year of the interview date.
• A copy of current transcript information, including latest GPA. You must show evidence of a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Evidence of professional membership (Student PSEA)
• Evidence of all completed field observation hours.
• Samples of completed field assignments.
• Art Education students should submit samples of artwork.

4. The Most Important Qualities of an Outstanding Educator

• Explain your philosophy about “The Most Important Qualities of an Outstanding Educator” in no more than two pages. What do you believe are the most important qualities and why? You may share an anecdote, inspirational quote or a metaphor for teaching to complement your philosophy.