Do AAP teachers hold higher educational degrees than regular teachers?
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Anonymous
| Out of curiosity, do all AAP teachers hold MA degrees? Do they have special training on top of their degrees? Are they paid more than other teachers? I'm just wondering because my three kids are going through the AAP program and all the teachers have been consistently top notch, that just seems rare with three kids. I know we had some terrible 1st grade teachers. |
Anonymous
| Nominally, they are certified for AAP, but they have some time for this to happen. |
Anonymous
They not only have several years (5) to accomplish the training, many teachers NEVER do the training, teach AAP, and then move to the base classrooms from AAP by the time the 5 years are up to avoid the training requirement. My kid's AAP teacher is - eh. |
Anonymous
This is true that (in Fairfax) they have 5 years to do the training and they may never complete it, but I don't think teachers switch grades to avoid the training - they have just decided that they'd rather teach a different age/grade or subject. The training is NOT hard. Also, all teachers are required to get an MA. Which is ridiculous considering how much we pay them and the fact that they have to do it on their own dime IMHO. I know AAP parents would like to believe that all AAP teachers have superior intelligence, training, education, etc., but it is simply not necessarily true. (Although for my spouse, an AAP teacher, it is true 
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Anonymous
| FCPS doesn't pay for the masters? |
Anonymous
|
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Nominally, they are certified for AAP, but they have some time for this to happen.[/quote]
They not only have several years (5) to accomplish the training, many teachers NEVER do the training, teach AAP, and then move to the base classrooms from AAP by the time the 5 years are up to avoid the training requirement. My kid's AAP teacher is - eh.[/quote] This is true that (in Fairfax) they have 5 years to do the training and they may never complete it, but I don't think teachers switch grades to avoid the training - they have just decided that they'd rather teach a different age/grade or subject. The training is NOT hard. Also, all teachers are required to get an MA. Which is ridiculous considering how much we pay them and the fact that they have to do it on their own dime IMHO. I know AAP parents would like to believe that all AAP teachers have superior intelligence, training, education, etc., but it is simply not necessarily true. (Although for my spouse, an AAP teacher, it is true [/quote]
All Fairfax Co. Public school teachers must have masters? Or did you mean all AAP teachers in Fairfax must have masters? |
Anonymous
|
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Nominally, they are certified for AAP, but they have some time for this to happen.[/quote]
They not only have several years (5) to accomplish the training, many teachers NEVER do the training, teach AAP, and then move to the base classrooms from AAP by the time the 5 years are up to avoid the training requirement. My kid's AAP teacher is - eh.[/quote] This is true that (in Fairfax) they have 5 years to do the training and they may never complete it, but I don't think teachers switch grades to avoid the training - they have just decided that they'd rather teach a different age/grade or subject. The training is NOT hard. Also, all teachers are required to get an MA. Which is ridiculous considering how much we pay them and the fact that they have to do it on their own dime IMHO. I know AAP parents would like to believe that all AAP teachers have superior intelligence, training, education, etc., but it is simply not necessarily true. (Although for my spouse, an AAP teacher, it is true [/quote]
All Fairfax Co. Public school teachers must have masters? Or did you mean all AAP teachers in Fairfax must have masters?[/quote] FCPS Secondary AAP teacher here. This isn't accurate. Regarding AAP Certification: FCPS requires teachers who teach at least one honors-level class to take a one-course introduction to advanced learners. That's it. Full certification (12 credits) is only required if a teacher only teaches AAP or honors-level classes, and teachers have five years to do earn it. Many teachers are not certified because their schedule doesn't require it. In the GMU Study done a few years ago, it was recommended that this be changed to require that all teachers of advanced learners be certified. So, if an AAP teacher is fully certified and s/he teaches another type of class, take it as a sign that s/he enjoys this type of learner/wants to know how to best teach them. Regarding a masters requirement: Not true at all, even though many teachers do hold advanced degrees. Teachers are required to have a certain number of continuing education hours or credits every five years, and to fulfill these needs, many teachers pursue advanced degrees. The pay scale is also based on your highest level of education, so in that aspect, earning a graduate degree is a win-win. That said, FCPS does not cover the expense. They used to reimburse up to 3 credits or $800 per SY, but budget reductions have eliminated this. |
Anonymous
|
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Nominally, they are certified for AAP, but they have some time for this to happen.[/quote]
They not only have several years (5) to accomplish the training, many teachers NEVER do the training, teach AAP, and then move to the base classrooms from AAP by the time the 5 years are up to avoid the training requirement. My kid's AAP teacher is - eh.[/quote] This is true that (in Fairfax) they have 5 years to do the training and they may never complete it, but I don't think teachers switch grades to avoid the training - they have just decided that they'd rather teach a different age/grade or subject. The training is NOT hard. Also, all teachers are required to get an MA. Which is ridiculous considering how much we pay them and the fact that they have to do it on their own dime IMHO. I know AAP parents would like to believe that all AAP teachers have superior intelligence, training, education, etc., but it is simply not necessarily true. (Although for my spouse, an AAP teacher, it is true [/quote]
All Fairfax Co. Public school teachers must have masters? Or did you mean all AAP teachers in Fairfax must have masters?[/quote] FCPS Secondary AAP teacher here. This isn't accurate. Regarding AAP Certification: FCPS requires teachers who teach at least one honors-level class to take a one-course introduction to advanced learners. That's it. Full certification (12 credits) is only required if a teacher only teaches AAP or honors-level classes, and teachers have five years to do earn it. Many teachers are not certified because their schedule doesn't require it. In the GMU Study done a few years ago, it was recommended that this be changed to require that all teachers of advanced learners be certified. So, if an AAP teacher is fully certified and s/he teaches another type of class, take it as a sign that s/he enjoys this type of learner/wants to know how to best teach them. Regarding a masters requirement: Not true at all, even though many teachers do hold advanced degrees. Teachers are required to have a certain number of continuing education hours or credits every five years, and to fulfill these needs, many teachers pursue advanced degrees. The pay scale is also based on your highest level of education, so in that aspect, earning a graduate degree is a win-win. That said, FCPS does not cover the expense. They used to reimburse up to 3 credits or $800 per SY, but budget reductions have eliminated this.[/quote] They do pay for the honors training though, right? |
Anonymous
|
My daughter taught all AAP classes in a highly gifted center and now teaches AP classes in high school. But she doesn't teach anywhere in the D.C. area so her experiences may be very different. She has a degree in Education and in Special Education. In our home state (where she teaches), gifted programs fall under Special Education. She received quite a bit of training in teaching highly gifted students while she was in college. She spent a full semester interning in the classroom before she even started full time student teaching. She taught elementary school for several years then started teaching AP courses (Lit) at the high school level after she got her Masters Degree.
She is constantly going to seminars and takes continuing education classes all the time. But she loves it! |
Anonymous
|
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Nominally, they are certified for AAP, but they have some time for this to happen.[/quote]
They not only have several years (5) to accomplish the training, many teachers NEVER do the training, teach AAP, and then move to the base classrooms from AAP by the time the 5 years are up to avoid the training requirement. My kid's AAP teacher is - eh.[/quote] This is true that (in Fairfax) they have 5 years to do the training and they may never complete it, but I don't think teachers switch grades to avoid the training - they have just decided that they'd rather teach a different age/grade or subject. The training is NOT hard. Also, all teachers are required to get an MA. Which is ridiculous considering how much we pay them and the fact that they have to do it on their own dime IMHO. I know AAP parents would like to believe that all AAP teachers have superior intelligence, training, education, etc., but it is simply not necessarily true. (Although for my spouse, an AAP teacher, it is true [/quote]
All Fairfax Co. Public school teachers must have masters? Or did you mean all AAP teachers in Fairfax must have masters?[/quote] FCPS Secondary AAP teacher here. This isn't accurate. Regarding AAP Certification: FCPS requires teachers who teach at least one honors-level class to take a one-course introduction to advanced learners. That's it. Full certification (12 credits) is only required if a teacher only teaches AAP or honors-level classes, and teachers have five years to do earn it. Many teachers are not certified because their schedule doesn't require it. In the GMU Study done a few years ago, it was recommended that this be changed to require that all teachers of advanced learners be certified. So, if an AAP teacher is fully certified and s/he teaches another type of class, take it as a sign that s/he enjoys this type of learner/wants to know how to best teach them. Regarding a masters requirement: Not true at all, even though many teachers do hold advanced degrees. Teachers are required to have a certain number of continuing education hours or credits every five years, and to fulfill these needs, many teachers pursue advanced degrees. The pay scale is also based on your highest level of education, so in that aspect, earning a graduate degree is a win-win. That said, FCPS does not cover the expense. They used to reimburse up to 3 credits or $800 per SY, but budget reductions have eliminated this.[/quote] They do pay for the honors training though, right?[/quote] Yes, for the most part. FCPS has its own "Academy" that offers professional development classes, taught by FCPS personnel, for free. Teachers can earn the FCPS Advanced Academic endorsement this way, but it is only recognized in FCPS. Those of us who have the state gifted endorsement had to take classes through an accredited university program, and FCPS does not financially offer support for this route. |
Anonymous
| My child's AAP teacher was a brand-new college grad. No actual teaching experience beyond student teaching. Not good. |
Anonymous
| spouse of teacher here - I stand corrected by the FCPS secondary school teacher - thanks! |
Anonymous
|
I was an AAP teacher with 2 M. Ed.s, but neither were in gifted. Both were in differentiated learning and related fields. I was supported in getting my FCPS certificate immediately. FCPS has wonderful trainings for teachers. Some they had to pay for, many were paid for by FCPS.
You can search on the VA Doe site by name what your teacher in licensed in for the state of VA, but to be FCPS certified, IMHO is not listed and is event better b/c their training is literally the best in the country. https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/tinfo/searchteacher.do?actionType=submitSearch&value(lastName)=a&value(firstName)=ci I left FCPS pays much less to teachers than surrounding counties for having more coursework under their belt (which may be why younger, less experienced teachers are in the classrooms) but they do train AAP staff very well. If your teacher is trained by FCPS and not, say, U-Conn, I'd be OK with that. |