Out of field teachers and notifications

Scooter Bug

Did I read his statement wrong? I thought he said the Teacher was certified in Elementary Ed.
So....there is a certified teacher teaching the class.

His beef is she's a long term sub that's not a math teacher.

As I understand it, his beef is that his son is being taught math by someone who isn't a math teacher and he's worried it could have a long term effect.

I would think it a non-issue/semantics except for the fact that they can't be hired in this position full-time because they are considered not qualified for the position. Someone teaching the majority of the class who isn't considered qualified to officially teach the whole class is a matter of concern IMO.

Love your idea of paying teachers more, interesting concept considering the status of the current budget!!! :bang:

What status are you referring too? I still am not convinced it is a funding problem, more of a priority problem. Negotiations appear to be leaning toward a 4.5% raise last I saw from the teacher's union. This in addition to the normal step raises from what current school board members are indicating. If they could get the union to go along with it, they could prioritize the additional monies toward those in field. This is actually an idea that Darrell Barnhill expressed a couple of years ago.

:scratch: I don't quite understand why you're complaining about this. It's not like they put just anyone in to cover the class. They put a 35yr veteran teacher with a Degree.
I could understand your beef if your son was taking Trigonometry or Calculus, but he's taking Algerbra. It's not like she trying to teach him rocket science out of field. If she has an Elementry Ed certificiate, then she most likely has taught Pre-Algebra, or Algebra at one time in her career.

I'm not trying to come across as hateful, but I think you're trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

I guess I'm a little biased, my wife has been teaching her 17yrs, and she has 3 feilds on her certificiate.😀

Since my son is attending a High School I do not believe it is unreasonable to ask that the instructor in his High School Algebra class be certified to teach High School Algebra. The instructor I met the first day of orientation has these credentials. The one I met 4 weeks later does not. I did contact the Principal and he told me the steps that are being taken to make sure that the information is taught. But if I had not asked I would not have known. If I had not gone to open house, I would not have known that a long term sub was teaching the class. If the schools want increased communication with the parents, they should realize it is a two way street.

I wanted to chime in on some of the issues raised in this thread. First, there was a question raised about teaching positions that are not filled but are budgeted. That is not true. We have a staffing plan for each school that is based on the number of students in the school, with additional positions for remediation and other special needs when requested by the principal. We budget for the positions in the staffing plan for each school. If, after we adopt the budget, the school needs an additional teacher, i.e., because of larger enrollment, special needs, etc., we fund that additonal teacher out of the the general operating "fund balance." By special needs, I am talking about an increase in students at a school with learning disabilities or other problems that would require an ESE teacher.

Second, we have attacked the "out of field" teacher problem. I have to credit a former board member, Donnie Richardson, with noting that problem and attacking it. The principals are told that if there is an in-field applicant for a position, they go to the top of the list. If we get recommendation for an "out of field" teacher for an open position, we will question the Superintendent to find out why. Usually there are two answers. The first is that no one that is certified in that field applied. The second is more common. Many times, in high schools, there will be a need for one class period of a particular subject. The principal will not have room in his staffing plan for another full time teacher, and will select a teacher with less than a full load to teach the subject. That is unfortunate, but, it happens in small schools more than we would wish.

Third, Robert is correct, we should not have "long term substitutes" teaching without certification. The problem is that many times a teacher, usually with tenure and after school starts, will go on leave (maternity, health) and we cannot find a teacher to fill their positoin that is certified in that field. I am sure you can imagine how hard it would be to find the right teacher after school begins.

I know it happened this year at South Walton High when an upper level English Teacher had to take long term leave for health reasons. The principal hired an uncertified substitute until he could find a certified replacement. The solution there, and everywhere, is for the board to create a "temporary position" so the "certified substitute" can receive the regular teacher pay and then when the tenured teacher returns, dissolve the temporary position. I believe the board will do that under limited circumstances.

Fourth, "certified" does not always mean "qualified." My father (a long time teacher and principal) have this discussion often. Many times a teacher is hired out of field and given a number of years to get certified in the area they are teaching. For instance, I have a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Juris Doctorate degree. Yet, I am not "certified" to teach English, Civics or Business Law in our schools. I may be qualified, but, I am not "certified." Interestly, I have taught government, business law and other criminal justice classes at NWF State College, F/K/A, OWC, F/K/A OWCC, F/K/A OWJC 🙂bang🙂 But, I am not considered certifed for those types of classes in high school. Often, principals have to make the decision to hire someone who might be qualified, but not certified understanding that they will receive the certification soon. The debate my father and I have is whether that "qualified person" should be hired when there is a "certified person" available. He says a principal should be given that discretion. I am coming around to his position, but, that is a difficult argument.

Fifth, I agree with Robert. We need certified and qualified teachers in every classroom. Sometimes it is simply not possible. We are receiving more applications for every position now than we ever have in the past. But, the "uncertified" problem usually occurs as noted above.

Lastly, money is going to get real tight in the next two years. (Should I take a swipe at my Republican friends here for the state of the economy and Florida's absurd tax policies?) If Robert is elected, we will have difficult decisions to make. Thanks guys for getting through this long post.

Please don't take that swipe. Many of those Republican friends worked very hard to get you elected. One of the main reasons for that work and support was due to your recently found "fiscal conservatism" and thoughtful insight into issues.

Hopefully you will vote today to not be a part of the tax problems in Florida.

We are counting on your vote to keep the millage rate the same. Increased taxes are not a solution to the tight money.

Make us proud.

And, I really thank you for your support. I meant that (the swipe comment) as a joke. I am not sure one vote makes me fiscal conservative, but, I cannot, in this particular economy, support an increase in the millage rates.

Question - if school has only been in session for a month and the classroom is sans certified teacher because she's out on maternity leave.......how was this not anticipated earlier? :idontno:

I would assume the teacher knew before the start of the school year and was probably visibly preggers before summer vacation and since she had tenure, her job wasn't in danger. :idontno:

Question - if school has only been in session for a month and the classroom is sans certified teacher because she's out on maternity leave.......how was this not anticipated earlier? :idontno:

I would assume the teacher knew before the start of the school year and was probably visibly preggers before summer vacation and since she had tenure, her job wasn't in danger. :idontno:

Believe it or not, the teacher will get pregnant, come back in August and then not schedule her leave until right before the baby is born in September or even late August. That is rare, but it does happen. Happened at Walton High School this year. Fortunately, the principal had lined up a qualifed and certified person. Usually though, the unexpected opening is for unexpected health reasons or some other personal tragedy.

Are there 2 out at Walton? Robert said the one his son has is not certified. That's what got this discussin started.

I know of only one teacher who took a leave for pregnancy reasons. Frankly, I can't remember what she teaches. I am checking on the one Robert mentioned. Thanks,

Are there 2 out at Walton? Robert said the one his son has is not certified. That's what got this discussin started.

I think certified to be a teacher is different from certified to teach a specific subject, and it's causing confusion, but don't know. :idontno:

I think certified to be a teacher is different from certified to teach a specific subject, and it's causing confusion, but don't know. :idontno:

You are kind of right. You can be "certified" as teacher to teach several subjects. My sister, for instance is certified as a P.E. teacher for grades K - 12, and is certified in high school biology. However, she is not "certified" in high school anatomy (did I spell that right?), although she has taught that subject many times. In that instance, she would be considered "out of field" although I believe she is qualified to teach that subject. Hope that helps....

:scratch: I don't quite understand why you're complaining about this. It's not like they put just anyone in to cover the class. They put a 35yr veteran teacher with a Degree.
I could understand your beef if your son was taking Trigonometry or Calculus, but he's taking Algerbra. It's not like she trying to teach him rocket science out of field. If she has an Elementry Ed certificiate, then she most likely has taught Pre-Algebra, or Algebra at one time in her career.

I'm not trying to come across as hateful, but I think you're trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

I guess I'm a little biased, my wife has been teaching her 17yrs, and she has 3 feilds on her certificiate.😀

😱...FTLOG! I was a certified Elementary School Teacher and the thought of me teaching a class in Algebra is frightening for both me and the poor students! Rethink this!!!! :blink: