Reply to Area Private School Teacher Shortage?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]People claiming the teachers at privates aren’t certified don’t know what they’re talking about. That’s really outdated info, for this area at least. Even all the ADW catholic schools require certification now. [/quote]

That is incorrect.  Most privates, perhaps  not the Big 3, have zero credentialing requirements. Zero. With regards  to others, including Big 3 or Big 5, it's discretionary unless it is a policy. It's not  a law or regulation.

The private schools I am aware of generally **do not** have credentialed,  or even qualified,  staff. These are small and large secular and parochial  settings all across the DMV  and Baltimore  Co, which has a large number of private  schools. There is a private school organization, AIMS, that encourages mainstream best practices, and that's a plus if a school belongs, but most do not. If I were to teach or send a child  to a private school, being affiliated with this organization would  be a consideration.  The school can gain affiliation with this organization with specified criteria that is worthwhile. [/quote]

I really wish we could rid DCUM of this fallacy. ADW and AoB (the Catholic schools in the region) both require MSDE certification. A teacher may begin teaching without it, but they must be working toward it in a set amount of time. (Incidentally, this is also true of public schools in the area. I used to work in a public high school and about 1/10 of our staff did not have certification. I was tasked with helping new teachers prepare to take the Praxis.) I now work in a Catholic school. We are 100% MSDE certified. Many of us are actually former public school teachers. As for best practices? I attend far more professional development trainings now than I did as a public school teacher. I am observed far more now than I was as a public school teacher, using the same Danielson framework. Can we please put this "parochial settings... do not have credentialed, or even qualified, staff" fallacy to rest?

(I'll also say that credentialing requirements are too easy to get. They alone are not the mark of a qualified teacher.)

[/quote]

Maybe  your school does,  but there are many  Catholic privates in Baltimore Co ., DC, and Montgomery Co that don't.  There are also  many other private schools, including parochial  schools, that  are not Catholic schools. Your school is, in fact, the exception. It is true that most private schools do not require any qualification, do not require any professional development. So,  no,  we do not have to rid DCUM of this fallacy.

Credentialing requirements for an Advanced Professional involves graduate degrees and a lot of coursework. Each  additional qualification( i e., Special Ed,  Reading, SLP, Administrator, ) requires their own set of coursework and  experience.  No,  it  isn't easy or quick.

[/quote]

I have an APC. I’m aware of the requirements.

Here’s the link to ADW certification requirements: 
https://www.sites.google.com/site/adwteacher/professional-development/certification-cohorts/faqs

Here’s the link to AOB certification requirements:
https://www.archbalt.org/employment/additional-information-for-teaching-positions/

You can also use those sites to see how many of the schools in this region belong to these two groups. There are only a few independent Catholic schools, mostly at the high school level. I have a friend who works in one of them. She has to be certified. [/quote]

Well, you keep bringing up the Archdiocese schools, which doesn't have much to do with most.  .  You have to realize  there are hundreds of schools  that  aren't Catholic,  and there are Catholic and other parochial schools,  Friends, Jewish, Muslim, etc., not affiliated with this. Many Catholic schools in Baltimore, well regarded (?) have no credentialing.  There are many private schools beyond the Archdiocese.

Again, MOST PRIVATE SCHOOLS do not require qualifications or credentialing. Your system does not generalize to the entirety.  [/quote]

I bring them up because of your original comment: “These are small and large secular and parochial  settings all across the DMV  and Baltimore  Co, which has a large number of private  schools.” Since the AOB and ADW have well over 100 of the “parochial” schools in the region, then it isn’t quite accurate to say “most” schools don’t require certification. I can check Arlington, too, which will show even more in the region do require it.

Of course I’m aware there are other types of schools. If you use the word “parochial,” however, it is often assumed you are talking Catholic schools. Of course it isn’t all-encompassing as other types of parishes have their own schools, but the large balance tend to be Catholic. They require certification.

I don’t appreciate any argument that assumes private school teachers are universally less qualified than their public peers. Since you appeared to be making that argument above, I chose to refute it.

[/quote]
Refute, with your own limited experience? Again:

Most, and I mean most, not  some,  not a few, not marginalized, not only small,  not out of the area, not unattended, but, in fact, MOST, unequivocally,  and absolutely,  do not hire teachers with credentialing or qualifications.  I stand by that, I know this for  a fact, have lots of experience in private school matters as an administrator,  as well as in public schools. 35 years of experience.  All you need to do is look out of your box. I'm glad that  you enjoy and feel proud of your school environment.  I'm glad there are standards  there regarding  this matter, but it is a absolute fallacy to suggest most privates have qualified/ credentialed staff. They don't.

Secondarily,  you may  not deride the professional pathway while all the while maintaining that your school and others require it (?) Maybe you took some back doors,  or you  haven't finished decades of certification qualifications, but I assure  you there is a reason for credentialing,  and I say this as a someone who teaches at the graduate level.  I have encountered many  teachers who lack basic  instruction of reading knowledge  and get all they think they need to know from packaged programs  and phonics books.

So, go Archdiocese schools, though. Happy to hear they are improving, at least in that regard. We can discuss other asiects of Catholic schools on another thread. Another time.

[/quote]

My “limited” experience of over 20 years? My “limited” experience, which includes leading PD for both public and private teachers? Teaching in both settings? You are making some serious assumptions. Sure, there are some schools that don’t require it. There are many that do, which happens to include all schools I mentioned. I can accept that some don’t. I don’t understand why you are so adamantly against accepting that many do.

I have my advanced degrees. I have my APC. I’ll admit it wasn’t hard to get, and no… I did not skip any steps. I have no problem reconciling the public’s faith in MSDE certification with the idea that certification in itself does not actually make good teachers. It’s a minimum, certainly, but what truly makes strong teaching is regular and targeted PD, supportive evaluations, and the long list of traits we know a teacher employs throughout the school day.

[/quote]

Private schools, generally,  actually do not require state certification. Apparently  yours does, but that is not the norm.

Why would a Catholic school teacher ever provide PD in public schools? Don't think that would happen. This narrative is pretty sketchy- all your degrees, easy certification ( why do you think it was easy? It's a decades long process  of graduate  school for each qualification on that cert) ,  a career filled with similar-to-public -school practices- something doesn't add up. If I had multiple degrees,  state certification(s), why would I agree to be paid so much less- in a parochial setting?  Poor benefits  and no retirement? Why would anyone sell themselves short?

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Catholic-School-Teaching-Salary--in-Maryland

Maybe you are just very religious and that  matters more, but even so, how could  you live on that salary?  Haven't read the whole thread, but what is being defended here? Catholic schools?  I feel as though an acceptance of this  level of salary and benefits actually undermines education,  period. It lowers the standards of the field.  Yes, and if you are required to absolutely have a current and relevant certification ( come on!...), with a substantially reduced income,  one has to wonder what is being accomplished here? That doesn't make your school great, your colleagues great, or anything. It means you don't really  need to work and this is a hobby. Must be nice.

Well, it won't matter soon. Teachers are leaving the profession, both public and  private, and will they will be replaced by anyone who wants  a job. You win!

[/quote]

Our catholic school is fully staffed this year with happy teachers. Just sayin’[/quote]

I mean, when The Bible is the curriculum, I guess that kinda takes care of itself eh?[/quote]

You are ignorant.[/quote]

Well, I did graduate from a christian high school, so…[/quote]

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