Reply to Did you get this letter from DCPS? No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Highly Qualified Teachers

Forum Index » DC Public and Public Charter Schools

Reply to "Did you get this letter from DCPS? No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Highly Qualified Teachers"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DCPS did a summer program 1 1/2 years ago to train anybody who wanted to teach there (with no teaching degree or certification).  My lawyer friend did it.  I think anybody ait any degree can teach there - no experience necessary.[/quote]

Hi,  I am curious to learn more about the program you are speaking to. I, also came into the teaching in DCPS through a summer program, the DC Teaching Fellows, and would not describe it only using the phrase 'no experience necessary'. There are legitimate issues you can have with the fellows programs, or other alternative certification programs like TFA- but it is best to give them a fair representation. You are correct, that I was not a teacher prior to joining up, but was a lawyer, just like your friend. I had significant experience working with children and was even in the college of education for a stint as an undergraduate, but left because to be honest there was not meat in the courses I was allowed to take. I was also in the program with people who went on to become amazing Math and Science teachers at the HS level, and had made the change to teaching from the private sector. 
 The summer program involved student teaching and courses in instructional design and delivery. During my first three years of teaching I had several mentors who would watch my teaching practice, help me analyze data, and plan for instruction. I also obtained a Masters in Education, from American, while completing my first two years of teaching. During this time I was also not highly qualified under NCLB, and my parents received letters. The reason for being not highly qualified was that under alternative certification programs you need two years of classroom teaching to become highly qualified.
  I have a bias here, clearly, but the letter itself would not alarm me. Listen to your child and track their progress. Keep up with their homework and at home reading. If there are issues with the academic portions of the day- then let that drive your concern.  
 [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics