Area Private School Teacher Shortage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an administrator and teacher at a private school for a period of time. I have multiple state certifications, 2 graduate degrees, and at the time, approximately 20 years of experience. The majority of teachers employed there had no background in teaching and were not certified. There was a staff of around 30-35 teachers, and I would say only about 10 or 12 were talented teachers quite on their own, but still flying by the seat of their pants. There was no real sense of curriculum understanding, learning theory, or best practices. It was posh daycare with some books. I left for public school. I don't understand why people pay to send their kids to private schools. I think there are some private schools with bone fide standards, certified teachers and staff (largely underpaid,however) and oversight, but people would be very surprised at how many are not, particularly the religious schools. Some well regarded schools that are private are really just a business model.
In the end, this is a whole career that requires an overhaul, public and private. Time to do it. An entire paradigm shift.

I think that you are raising an excellent point. The paths to teaching seem to vary wildly. Our private school doesn't really highlight staff credentials so I have no idea what is typical, but I certainly have observed big variances amongst my children over the years in taking the same subjects with different teachers. I agree with some PPs that parents can be a nightmare (entitled and neurotic) and are a big part of the exodus problem, but I do think that you are illustrating a nuance of the model that stymies and erodes parent trust and confidence in private school teachers and schools.

From a parent's perspective, a child's experience is so teacher-dependent. Communication home and with the student is variable. Teacher training and philosophies are variable. Curriculum is variable. Grading is variable.

Therefore, quality (or at least, perceived quality) is variable.

This isn't the case in most professional service environments. Typically a customer has some influence in choosing an accountant or a lawyer based on skills and reputation. And parents are paying big $$$ to a school with the brand premise that its teachers are highly skilled overall. Many, many are. But there are also quite a few inexperienced ones (or much worse, apathetic duds) too.

And current trends suggest that a higher percentage of the duds are going to be teaching as the stars exit the field.

There doesn't seem to be a particularly robust system to reward excellence in teaching financially, and likely accolades are tied to admin noticing or prioritizing funding for salary bumps. That is a real problem with the business model. If the duds are getting paid as much as the stars, that is an issue. If stars aren't noticed and financially rewarded, that is an issue. Pay being low overall is a known issue. If admin is weak and mainly focused on flash and short-term accomplishments (buildings, sports, etc) for fundraising and admissions vs academic excellence, that is an issue.

Parents will be willing to endure paying for duds only to a point. There is certainly value to small class sizes, but IMO the schools that will be the most successful in the long run are those that attract the stars and keep them happy.

You put your finger on it - human beings are variable..life is variable. I actually have never thought that every single teacher need be amazing. That would be overload. But an excellent teacher that you connect with within a thoughtful framework and community can make for an amazing school journey. By middle school with single subjects you are likely to get some every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an administrator and teacher at a private school for a period of time. I have multiple state certifications, 2 graduate degrees, and at the time, approximately 20 years of experience. The majority of teachers employed there had no background in teaching and were not certified. There was a staff of around 30-35 teachers, and I would say only about 10 or 12 were talented teachers quite on their own, but still flying by the seat of their pants. There was no real sense of curriculum understanding, learning theory, or best practices. It was posh daycare with some books. I left for public school. I don't understand why people pay to send their kids to private schools. I think there are some private schools with bone fide standards, certified teachers and staff (largely underpaid,however) and oversight, but people would be very surprised at how many are not, particularly the religious schools. Some well regarded schools that are private are really just a business model.
In the end, this is a whole career that requires an overhaul, public and private. Time to do it. An entire paradigm shift.

I have certifications (state and national), Masters Degree and over 30 years of experience. The certifications are pretty meaningless in my opinion.

Until you engage with educators with none. Yes, teachers do need education, training, and experience.

Maybe you just aren't in the right field. If these goal posts are meaningless, why did you spend all that time obtaining them? It's a lot of work and money and time.

I think you missed PP’s point. They are saying that the certifications are pretty meaningless. They aren’t discounting the training and education they received while completing master’s degrees and their teaching experience. There are those on this board who seem to think that unless a teacher is certified, they aren’t qualified. I’ll take a teachers with a masters and experience any day over a teacher with a state certification and little to no experience. Not to say that the latter won’t become a great teacher but the point is that a state certification is not the great qualifier that some thing it is. Education and experience are the more important factors.

Certifications aren’t just pieces of paper. There's a lot of work involved.

They aren’t just pieces of paper but they also aren’t the only way a person can show they are qualified to teach. Why would a private school teacher with a masters in computer science and a bachelors in education decide that they need to go and certify as a teacher before accepting a position with a school that doesn’t require or hire based on certifications? What’s the point?
Public school educators get certifications because the school system itself has made them necessary and valued. The education behind them is always of value but whether someone has sat for the certification and can check that box isn’t a concrete measure of qualification.
I would rather have someone who has a degree in the field they are teaching, a basis in teaching and a willing, non-jaded attitude than a new teacher with no experience and a certification who has been glued to Bored Teachers all summer long.

We will answer that question after these veterans and their spouses all start teaching in public classroom. This will be very, very eye opening and shocking. Most people have no idea what teaching in a classroom means, and especially those who come from a system of rules and obedience. This will be a S#i+ s#0w. They won't last until the first grading period, if even a week. Oh, and, yes, a teacher needs to understand the complexity of neurological and developmental learning. They need to understand how to teach how to think, how to read, how to question, how to think. Yes, that takes a great deal of preparation and experience. Certifications aren't just handed out.

Eh. I have my MSDE certification. I didn’t major in Education, so I completed an alternative path. It wasn’t hard and I finished in a couple of months.

My certification isn’t what makes me a good teacher. I’ve taught with dreadful teachers who are certified and amazing teachers who aren’t. (I’m now working in a private school.) I agree with everything you wrote above about what makes a good teacher. I’d just argue that has very little to do with certification.

Sure there are bad teachers in both camps. But it is a field. I know vet techs who know more than some veterinarians. There is a body of study that requires a path of study and best practices.

"I know vet techs who know more than some veterinarians." = This is not a believable assertion. I suspect that the vet techs communicate more openly and freely with you sharing most of the limited information that they know on a particular condition or illness which leads you to believe that they now more than one who has spent a very significant number of years studying vet science & caring for animals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was an administrator and teacher at a private school for a period of time. I have multiple state certifications, 2 graduate degrees, and at the time, approximately 20 years of experience. The majority of teachers employed there had no background in teaching and were not certified. There was a staff of around 30-35 teachers, and I would say only about 10 or 12 were talented teachers quite on their own, but still flying by the seat of their pants. There was no real sense of curriculum understanding, learning theory, or best practices. It was posh daycare with some books. I left for public school. I don't understand why people pay to send their kids to private schools. I think there are some private schools with bone fide standards, certified teachers and staff (largely underpaid,however) and oversight, but people would be very surprised at how many are not, particularly the religious schools. Some well regarded schools that are private are really just a business model.
In the end, this is a whole career that requires an overhaul, public and private. Time to do it. An entire paradigm shift.

"I don't understand why people pay to send their kids to private schools." = Hard to believe that one with your claimed experience and education would be so blind and unknowing as to make such a ridiculous statement. Would be more credible if you limited your thoughts and comments to your experience at one particular private school.

All of the private and religious (Catholic) schools with which we and our large extended have experience have been outstanding. The public school experiences have yielded a mixture of experiences--some good and some not-so-good.

Lots of reasons to pay for private school. Better discipline that starts with parents and the students' home life.. Screening of students and parents for those--regardless of income due to availability of financial aid--who really value education and an orderly, respectful environment. Safer learning environment among motivated students, teachers, administrators, and staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the private school teachers I have known here come from family money or have a spouse with money, or they switch to public.

A lot of private school teachers are also career teachers since there are less qualifications required than public. They do it when they want the tuition discount for their kid or when they retire from their first career.

Should read career *switchers*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an administrator and teacher at a private school for a period of time. I have multiple state certifications, 2 graduate degrees, and at the time, approximately 20 years of experience. The majority of teachers employed there had no background in teaching and were not certified. There was a staff of around 30-35 teachers, and I would say only about 10 or 12 were talented teachers quite on their own, but still flying by the seat of their pants. There was no real sense of curriculum understanding, learning theory, or best practices. It was posh daycare with some books. I left for public school. I don't understand why people pay to send their kids to private schools. I think there are some private schools with bone fide standards, certified teachers and staff (largely underpaid,however) and oversight, but people would be very surprised at how many are not, particularly the religious schools. Some well regarded schools that are private are really just a business model.
In the end, this is a whole career that requires an overhaul, public and private. Time to do it. An entire paradigm shift.

"I don't understand why people pay to send their kids to private schools." = Hard to believe that one with your claimed experience and education would be so blind and unknowing as to make such a ridiculous statement. Would be more credible if you limited your thoughts and comments to your experience at one particular private school.

All of the private and religious (Catholic) schools with which we and our large extended have experience have been outstanding. The public school experiences have yielded a mixture of experiences--some good and some not-so-good.

Lots of reasons to pay for private school. Better discipline that starts with parents and the students' home life.. Screening of students and parents for those--regardless of income due to availability of financial aid--who really value education and an orderly, respectful environment. Safer learning environment among motivated students, teachers, administrators, and staff.

Yes, well I did understand the classism and racism aspect of private schools, yes, of course. But it isn't an education that you are purchasing. It's the screening tool.
And no teachers aren't more motivated in the way that you think. In a private school, they are entirely beholdened to a parent population, and they just have to deal with it. Why can't they leave? It is because they aren’t qualified to teach in another environment. This amount of money is what they can earn and it's the most they can get for as long as they are teaching. No, you don't have more motivated teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an administrator and teacher at a private school for a period of time. I have multiple state certifications, 2 graduate degrees, and at the time, approximately 20 years of experience. The majority of teachers employed there had no background in teaching and were not certified. There was a staff of around 30-35 teachers, and I would say only about 10 or 12 were talented teachers quite on their own, but still flying by the seat of their pants. There was no real sense of curriculum understanding, learning theory, or best practices. It was posh daycare with some books. I left for public school. I don't understand why people pay to send their kids to private schools. I think there are some private schools with bone fide standards, certified teachers and staff (largely underpaid,however) and oversight, but people would be very surprised at how many are not, particularly the religious schools. Some well regarded schools that are private are really just a business model.
In the end, this is a whole career that requires an overhaul, public and private. Time to do it. An entire paradigm shift.

I have certifications (state and national), Masters Degree and over 30 years of experience. The certifications are pretty meaningless in my opinion.

Until you engage with educators with none. Yes, teachers do need education, training, and experience.

Maybe you just aren't in the right field. If these goal posts are meaningless, why did you spend all that time obtaining them? It's a lot of work and money and time.

I think you missed PP’s point. They are saying that the certifications are pretty meaningless. They aren’t discounting the training and education they received while completing master’s degrees and their teaching experience. There are those on this board who seem to think that unless a teacher is certified, they aren’t qualified. I’ll take a teachers with a masters and experience any day over a teacher with a state certification and little to no experience. Not to say that the latter won’t become a great teacher but the point is that a state certification is not the great qualifier that some thing it is. Education and experience are the more important factors.

Certifications aren’t just pieces of paper. There's a lot of work involved.

They aren’t just pieces of paper but they also aren’t the only way a person can show they are qualified to teach. Why would a private school teacher with a masters in computer science and a bachelors in education decide that they need to go and certify as a teacher before accepting a position with a school that doesn’t require or hire based on certifications? What’s the point?
Public school educators get certifications because the school system itself has made them necessary and valued. The education behind them is always of value but whether someone has sat for the certification and can check that box isn’t a concrete measure of qualification.
I would rather have someone who has a degree in the field they are teaching, a basis in teaching and a willing, non-jaded attitude than a new teacher with no experience and a certification who has been glued to Bored Teachers all summer long.

We will answer that question after these veterans and their spouses all start teaching in public classroom. This will be very, very eye opening and shocking. Most people have no idea what teaching in a classroom means, and especially those who come from a system of rules and obedience. This will be a S#i+ s#0w. They won't last until the first grading period, if even a week. Oh, and, yes, a teacher needs to understand the complexity of neurological and developmental learning. They need to understand how to teach how to think, how to read, how to question, how to think. Yes, that takes a great deal of preparation and experience. Certifications aren't just handed out.

Eh. I have my MSDE certification. I didn’t major in Education, so I completed an alternative path. It wasn’t hard and I finished in a couple of months.

My certification isn’t what makes me a good teacher. I’ve taught with dreadful teachers who are certified and amazing teachers who aren’t. (I’m now working in a private school.) I agree with everything you wrote above about what makes a good teacher. I’d just argue that has very little to do with certification.

Sure there are bad teachers in both camps. But it is a field. I know vet techs who know more than some veterinarians. There is a body of study that requires a path of study and best practices.

"I know vet techs who know more than some veterinarians." = This is not a believable assertion. I suspect that the vet techs communicate more openly and freely with you sharing most of the limited information that they know on a particular condition or illness which leads you to believe that they now more than one who has spent a very significant number of years studying vet science & caring for animals.

My point was that a couple of examples of a situation doesn't generalize to an entire profession. You missed the point entirely here. Went over your head.

But, while we are here, and this isn't a thread abouf veterinary science, there are older privately owned practice veterinarians who are out of the technology loop and, yes, there are some surgical techs who could run rings around their present knowledge and practice. Not many anymore, but my point was that just because you find a private school teacher whom you find knowledgeable and talented, that doesn't generalize or supersede to an entire career and profession of certified teachers. Most private school teachers, particularly in religious environments, but also in other private settings are not trained.

[Anonymous]

Look at the advertisements for teachers in the private setting. Look at the requirements. Most of the time, there are none. Some don't even require a college degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at the advertisements for teachers in the private setting. Look at the requirements. Most of the time, there are none. Some don't even require a college degree.

That is absolutely not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an administrator and teacher at a private school for a period of time. I have multiple state certifications, 2 graduate degrees, and at the time, approximately 20 years of experience. The majority of teachers employed there had no background in teaching and were not certified. There was a staff of around 30-35 teachers, and I would say only about 10 or 12 were talented teachers quite on their own, but still flying by the seat of their pants. There was no real sense of curriculum understanding, learning theory, or best practices. It was posh daycare with some books. I left for public school. I don't understand why people pay to send their kids to private schools. I think there are some private schools with bone fide standards, certified teachers and staff (largely underpaid,however) and oversight, but people would be very surprised at how many are not, particularly the religious schools. Some well regarded schools that are private are really just a business model.
In the end, this is a whole career that requires an overhaul, public and private. Time to do it. An entire paradigm shift.

I have certifications (state and national), Masters Degree and over 30 years of experience. The certifications are pretty meaningless in my opinion.

Until you engage with educators with none. Yes, teachers do need education, training, and experience.

Maybe you just aren't in the right field. If these goal posts are meaningless, why did you spend all that time obtaining them? It's a lot of work and money and time.

I think you missed PP’s point. They are saying that the certifications are pretty meaningless. They aren’t discounting the training and education they received while completing master’s degrees and their teaching experience. There are those on this board who seem to think that unless a teacher is certified, they aren’t qualified. I’ll take a teachers with a masters and experience any day over a teacher with a state certification and little to no experience. Not to say that the latter won’t become a great teacher but the point is that a state certification is not the great qualifier that some thing it is. Education and experience are the more important factors.

Certifications aren’t just pieces of paper. There's a lot of work involved.

They aren’t just pieces of paper but they also aren’t the only way a person can show they are qualified to teach. Why would a private school teacher with a masters in computer science and a bachelors in education decide that they need to go and certify as a teacher before accepting a position with a school that doesn’t require or hire based on certifications? What’s the point?
Public school educators get certifications because the school system itself has made them necessary and valued. The education behind them is always of value but whether someone has sat for the certification and can check that box isn’t a concrete measure of qualification.
I would rather have someone who has a degree in the field they are teaching, a basis in teaching and a willing, non-jaded attitude than a new teacher with no experience and a certification who has been glued to Bored Teachers all summer long.

We will answer that question after these veterans and their spouses all start teaching in public classroom. This will be very, very eye opening and shocking. Most people have no idea what teaching in a classroom means, and especially those who come from a system of rules and obedience. This will be a S#i+ s#0w. They won't last until the first grading period, if even a week. Oh, and, yes, a teacher needs to understand the complexity of neurological and developmental learning. They need to understand how to teach how to think, how to read, how to question, how to think. Yes, that takes a great deal of preparation and experience. Certifications aren't just handed out.

Certified teacher here. I don't think that certification is meaningless. I also think you're kidding yourself if you think it's a "great deal of preparation and experience" to get certified. It's 20-30 credits of education coursework, some classroom observation, and a semester of student teaching. It's not as much training as you think.

Unfortunately on DCUM it's impossible to have a nuanced conversation, but it's ridiculous to paint private school teachers with a broad brush to say that they are automatically unqualified because they don't have a certification.

The situation in Florida where they are letting any veteran or spouse waltz into a teaching job is a different situation altogether and nobody thinks that's a good idea.

Nah, that's starting out. To continue, it's a graduate degree and depending on type of certification, quite a bit of work.

Listen, I am a certified teacher! I have two master's degrees! I understand the work! The point is that the bar is not as high as you think. I work in private school now and I really hate the way my colleagues are disparaged on this site. They are incredible educators.

[Anonymous]

Wow our nanny earns more than some of these salaries.

Private school debt also plays a role in how much can be paid out to teachers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the advertisements for teachers in the private setting. Look at the requirements. Most of the time, there are none. Some don't even require a college degree.

That is absolutely not true.

Yes, it absolutely it. Please do your research. You are not familiar with the breadth of private school experience, particularly religious schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an administrator and teacher at a private school for a period of time. I have multiple state certifications, 2 graduate degrees, and at the time, approximately 20 years of experience. The majority of teachers employed there had no background in teaching and were not certified. There was a staff of around 30-35 teachers, and I would say only about 10 or 12 were talented teachers quite on their own, but still flying by the seat of their pants. There was no real sense of curriculum understanding, learning theory, or best practices. It was posh daycare with some books. I left for public school. I don't understand why people pay to send their kids to private schools. I think there are some private schools with bone fide standards, certified teachers and staff (largely underpaid,however) and oversight, but people would be very surprised at how many are not, particularly the religious schools. Some well regarded schools that are private are really just a business model.
In the end, this is a whole career that requires an overhaul, public and private. Time to do it. An entire paradigm shift.

I have certifications (state and national), Masters Degree and over 30 years of experience. The certifications are pretty meaningless in my opinion.

Until you engage with educators with none. Yes, teachers do need education, training, and experience.

Maybe you just aren't in the right field. If these goal posts are meaningless, why did you spend all that time obtaining them? It's a lot of work and money and time.

I think you missed PP’s point. They are saying that the certifications are pretty meaningless. They aren’t discounting the training and education they received while completing master’s degrees and their teaching experience. There are those on this board who seem to think that unless a teacher is certified, they aren’t qualified. I’ll take a teachers with a masters and experience any day over a teacher with a state certification and little to no experience. Not to say that the latter won’t become a great teacher but the point is that a state certification is not the great qualifier that some thing it is. Education and experience are the more important factors.

Certifications aren’t just pieces of paper. There's a lot of work involved.

They aren’t just pieces of paper but they also aren’t the only way a person can show they are qualified to teach. Why would a private school teacher with a masters in computer science and a bachelors in education decide that they need to go and certify as a teacher before accepting a position with a school that doesn’t require or hire based on certifications? What’s the point?
Public school educators get certifications because the school system itself has made them necessary and valued. The education behind them is always of value but whether someone has sat for the certification and can check that box isn’t a concrete measure of qualification.
I would rather have someone who has a degree in the field they are teaching, a basis in teaching and a willing, non-jaded attitude than a new teacher with no experience and a certification who has been glued to Bored Teachers all summer long.

We will answer that question after these veterans and their spouses all start teaching in public classroom. This will be very, very eye opening and shocking. Most people have no idea what teaching in a classroom means, and especially those who come from a system of rules and obedience. This will be a S#i+ s#0w. They won't last until the first grading period, if even a week. Oh, and, yes, a teacher needs to understand the complexity of neurological and developmental learning. They need to understand how to teach how to think, how to read, how to question, how to think. Yes, that takes a great deal of preparation and experience. Certifications aren't just handed out.

Certified teacher here. I don't think that certification is meaningless. I also think you're kidding yourself if you think it's a "great deal of preparation and experience" to get certified. It's 20-30 credits of education coursework, some classroom observation, and a semester of student teaching. It's not as much training as you think.

Unfortunately on DCUM it's impossible to have a nuanced conversation, but it's ridiculous to paint private school teachers with a broad brush to say that they are automatically unqualified because they don't have a certification.

The situation in Florida where they are letting any veteran or spouse waltz into a teaching job is a different situation altogether and nobody thinks that's a good idea.

Nah, that's starting out. To continue, it's a graduate degree and depending on type of certification, quite a bit of work.

Listen, I am a certified teacher! I have two master's degrees! I understand the work! The point is that the bar is not as high as you think. I work in private school now and I really hate the way my colleagues are disparaged on this site. They are incredible educators.

Your experience might not be as comprehensive as it could be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at the advertisements for teachers in the private setting. Look at the requirements. Most of the time, there are none. Some don't even require a college degree.

B*llshit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an administrator and teacher at a private school for a period of time. I have multiple state certifications, 2 graduate degrees, and at the time, approximately 20 years of experience. The majority of teachers employed there had no background in teaching and were not certified. There was a staff of around 30-35 teachers, and I would say only about 10 or 12 were talented teachers quite on their own, but still flying by the seat of their pants. There was no real sense of curriculum understanding, learning theory, or best practices. It was posh daycare with some books. I left for public school. I don't understand why people pay to send their kids to private schools. I think there are some private schools with bone fide standards, certified teachers and staff (largely underpaid,however) and oversight, but people would be very surprised at how many are not, particularly the religious schools. Some well regarded schools that are private are really just a business model.
In the end, this is a whole career that requires an overhaul, public and private. Time to do it. An entire paradigm shift.

I have certifications (state and national), Masters Degree and over 30 years of experience. The certifications are pretty meaningless in my opinion.

Until you engage with educators with none. Yes, teachers do need education, training, and experience.

Maybe you just aren't in the right field. If these goal posts are meaningless, why did you spend all that time obtaining them? It's a lot of work and money and time.

I think you missed PP’s point. They are saying that the certifications are pretty meaningless. They aren’t discounting the training and education they received while completing master’s degrees and their teaching experience. There are those on this board who seem to think that unless a teacher is certified, they aren’t qualified. I’ll take a teachers with a masters and experience any day over a teacher with a state certification and little to no experience. Not to say that the latter won’t become a great teacher but the point is that a state certification is not the great qualifier that some thing it is. Education and experience are the more important factors.

Certifications aren’t just pieces of paper. There's a lot of work involved.

They aren’t just pieces of paper but they also aren’t the only way a person can show they are qualified to teach. Why would a private school teacher with a masters in computer science and a bachelors in education decide that they need to go and certify as a teacher before accepting a position with a school that doesn’t require or hire based on certifications? What’s the point?
Public school educators get certifications because the school system itself has made them necessary and valued. The education behind them is always of value but whether someone has sat for the certification and can check that box isn’t a concrete measure of qualification.
I would rather have someone who has a degree in the field they are teaching, a basis in teaching and a willing, non-jaded attitude than a new teacher with no experience and a certification who has been glued to Bored Teachers all summer long.

We will answer that question after these veterans and their spouses all start teaching in public classroom. This will be very, very eye opening and shocking. Most people have no idea what teaching in a classroom means, and especially those who come from a system of rules and obedience. This will be a S#i+ s#0w. They won't last until the first grading period, if even a week. Oh, and, yes, a teacher needs to understand the complexity of neurological and developmental learning. They need to understand how to teach how to think, how to read, how to question, how to think. Yes, that takes a great deal of preparation and experience. Certifications aren't just handed out.

Certified teacher here. I don't think that certification is meaningless. I also think you're kidding yourself if you think it's a "great deal of preparation and experience" to get certified. It's 20-30 credits of education coursework, some classroom observation, and a semester of student teaching. It's not as much training as you think.

Unfortunately on DCUM it's impossible to have a nuanced conversation, but it's ridiculous to paint private school teachers with a broad brush to say that they are automatically unqualified because they don't have a certification.

The situation in Florida where they are letting any veteran or spouse waltz into a teaching job is a different situation altogether and nobody thinks that's a good idea.

Nah, that's starting out. To continue, it's a graduate degree and depending on type of certification, quite a bit of work.

Listen, I am a certified teacher! I have two master's degrees! I understand the work! The point is that the bar is not as high as you think. I work in private school now and I really hate the way my colleagues are disparaged on this site. They are incredible educators.

Your experience might not be as comprehensive as it could be.

Oh really? Then tell me all about your[b] "comprehensive" credentials. I've been teaching for 26 years and have taught in public, private, and parochial schools, in the DC area and also outside DC. But sure.

[Anonymous]

My DC private (I am a teacher and my son attends) had last minute resignations in 3 MS subjects. Positions not posted on school website yet (probably to not alarm parents) but teachers have been asked to refer anyone we know who might be interested.