State AAP (Gifted) Endorsement for teachers

[Anonymous]

Anyone know of a site that tells us how many teachers at each AAP ctr or local level IV are actually endorsed by the state, vs endorsed by FCPS, vs still in their 5 years of training/endorsement?

[Anonymous]

There are two slides in the middle of this presentation that have some information -- however it does not list distinctions between the endorsements:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/pdfs/aapac/AAPACpresentationJan2013.pdf

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP - I was actually trying to find out how many teachers have the state or county endorsement at our base school (LLIV) and our center.

[Anonymous]

Can you just send an email and ask the schools you're interested in?

[Anonymous]

OP, if you're trying to determine which school to send your kid to next year, I have to say that I don't really think having the 12 credits in training makes a huge difference. Courses teaching educators how to teach are all kind of, well, to be perfectly blunt, common sense. You'd be better off finding out what sort of degrees the teachers hold (BA's, MA's? Science, Math, or Education?) Not that I think you could get ahold of that info. - but my point is - I'd rather have a teacher with a master's in math who is working on their AAP endorsement teach my kid AAP math than a teacher with a master's in education with their state endorsement in "giftedness". I just think it's putting too much emphasis on what the endorsement or certification actually translates into. - signed spouse of a teacher (who agrees with me whole-heartedly) and parent of Fairfax elementary students

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP - wasn't sure if this was a way to rate the level IV program at base school c/w the center.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you're trying to determine which school to send your kid to next year, I have to say that I don't really think having the 12 credits in training makes a huge difference. Courses teaching educators how to teach are all kind of, well, to be perfectly blunt, common sense. You'd be better off finding out what sort of degrees the teachers hold (BA's, MA's? Science, Math, or Education?) Not that I think you could get ahold of that info. - but my point is - I'd rather have a teacher with a master's in math who is working on their AAP endorsement teach my kid AAP math than a teacher with a master's in education with their state endorsement in "giftedness". I just think it's putting too much emphasis on what the endorsement or certification actually translates into. - signed spouse of a teacher (who agrees with me whole-heartedly) and parent of Fairfax elementary students

Pretty sure most elementary teachers have degrees in elementary education.

[Anonymous]

Courses teaching educators how to teach are all kind of, well, to be perfectly blunt, common sense

Actually, a lot of the things they teach defy common sense......

[Anonymous]

This may give you some info. You need a teacher's first and last name. If there are multiples teachers with the same name, you'll need a middle initial.

I looked myself up and it tells my endorsements and highest level of education reported.

https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/tinfo/searchteacher.do

[Anonymous]

Pretty sure most elementary teachers have degrees in elementary education.

Not true. It depends what state the teacher is from. I went to college in VA in the late 90's. VA would not allow teachers to major in education. So you basically had to "double major." I took a ton of education courses and completed a regular bachelors degree major like all the other students at my school. My major was in history, but many others in the elementary ed program majored in english or psychology. By completing the education courses, you earned an endorsement in elementary education.

Today, most of the education programs in VA are complete masters programs, which the student can complete in 5 years. The bachelors is in liberal studies b/c as elementary teachers we need to know a little bit of everything. So you take economics courses, history courses, english courses, and so on - and no, not "economics for teachers" but a regular microeconomics course. The masters is in elementary education.

Some states are full of education colleges - like PA. Teachers there can get a bachelors in elementary ed, and then they move to VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may give you some info. You need a teacher's first and last name. If there are multiples teachers with the same name, you'll need a middle initial.

I looked myself up and it tells my endorsements and highest level of education reported.

https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/tinfo/searchteacher.do

I looked up our teachers on this site and it only gives their highest level of education (ie Masters Degree) and their licensure. Where did you see anything about gifted/AAP endorsement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may give you some info. You need a teacher's first and last name. If there are multiples teachers with the same name, you'll need a middle initial.

I looked myself up and it tells my endorsements and highest level of education reported.

https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/tinfo/searchteacher.do

I looked up our teachers on this site and it only gives their highest level of education (ie Masters Degree) and their licensure. Where did you see anything about gifted/AAP endorsement?

I just did the same and I see the specifics underneath the blue bar titled Active Licens(s):

License Type Postgraduate Professional License
Expiration Date 06/30/2014
Endorsement(s) Elementary Education PreK-6
Gifted Education

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP - if the teacher does not have the "gifted endorsement", do you think that means they are not even certified by FCPS or just not endorsed by the state?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP - if the teacher does not have the "gifted endorsement", do you think that means they are not even certified by FCPS or just not endorsed by the state?

I would think it is not possible to tell if they have are working on the state AAP endorsement or the FCPS AAP endorsement. Maybe you could ask the principal at the school(s) you are considering?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP - if the teacher does not have the "gifted endorsement", do you think that means they are not even certified by FCPS or just not endorsed by the state?

I would think it is not possible to tell if they have are working on the state AAP endorsement or the FCPS AAP endorsement. Maybe you could ask the principal at the school(s) you are considering?

Just looked up DH and his co-teacher - the website didn't list either of their "gifted" certifications. I wouldn't place a lot of stock in this tool. Note the caveat noted on the website:

* The "Highest Degree Reported" denotes the highest degree reported to the Division of Teacher Education and Licensure for this individual. Please note that individuals may have an advanced degree (master's or doctorate), and the degree has not been reported to the Division of Teacher Education and Licensure.