Well I thought you’all might find this interesting and frightening. I have been fighting it out trying to get a waiver for my certification. I ended up talking with the head of licensure in ABQ yesterday. She was helpful and courteous. At one point, she told me that *IF* the school had a qualified applicant they could not use a teacher on a waiver.
So, and I am sorry I asked, I asked “Who is more qualified a teacher with 25 years experience on a waiver or a teacher with no experience and a certificate?” She answered without any hestitation, irony, or qualification, “The teacher with the certificate.” There was no “according to the law” or anything like this. Unless she was not entirely truthful, she really really believes this stuff! Wow!!
—des
Re: Frightening comment!!!
Des — my only question on this is how you got to twenty-five years’ experience without discovering that most educational management runs on magical thinking. Certified teachers have some sort of mystical power granted with the certificate that allows them to teach large groups of totally unprepared students, manage out-of-control classes that have never heard the word no, and manufacture teaching materials for ten different grade levels for free overnight out of thin air — didn’t you know this?
Re: Frightening comment!!!
Patti— of course, I will have to get the certificate. That isn’t the problem. It is that I could have this job, if I got the waiver. I can’t have it unless I do. That’s that. (If I don’t I am still looking for a job, I guess).
Virginia, yes, I think this magical thinking ala a certain Piagetian thinking. I believe this step is not usually associated with adults. :-)
—des
Re: Frightening comment!!!
Another thing, mathematically speaking X no. of teachers will have to work under a waiver as there are not enough teachers for no. of positions. Of course, the school in question does not have to be the one mathematically challenged or something, but someone in the district will be. Another thing, this lady told me that they will eliminate waivers in 4 years or something like this. Wonder if, given the current shortages, that they will be able to do this.
—des
yes they hire on waivers
I had the same problem, I had an emergency substitute teaching credential to work for 30 days in one subbing position…and even though they didn’t have a replacement for the SDC teacher I was subbing for they still refused to give me a waiver to stay in that position. So when my 30 days was up I left to work as an SLP and this class had another string of subs for 3 weeks until they found a teacher, who had a credential even though it wasn’t the “proper” one for an SDC class, she had a clear credential that I didn’t have as a teacher.
From my own knowledge…personnel finds creative ways to get around using waivers. The newspapers in my area report annually about how many teachers have emergency credentials and how many are credentialed.
I also knew another friend who had a teaching credential and was working as an SLP. They got her a waiver to work as an SLP because she had the teaching credential as a regular ed teacher, so when they report to the press they can say that she had a credential but in reality she worked on a waiver…as an SLP. When I brought that up with personnel they said…we don’t hire any people on Waivers, when you get your clear credential you can reapply…is what she said..
They will get around getting waivers as more teachers are credentialed, however, the sad reality is special ed burns teachers out faster than new ones can fill in the positions.
I am sorry about your not getting the waiver though…been there myself…I couldn’t move the mountain even with one of the directors of special ed pushing along with me… Good luck on getting your credentials!! :)
Re: yes they hire on waivers
>They will get around getting waivers as more teachers are credentialed, however, the sad reality is special ed burns teachers out faster than new ones can fill in the positions.
I’ve heard something like 1 in 7 stays 7 years or something like that. Have no idea how accurate that one is. But I wouldn’t be surprised.
>I am sorry about your not getting the waiver though…been there myself…I couldn’t move the mountain even with one of the directors of special ed pushing along with me… Good luck on getting your credentials!! :)
Well the waiver hasn’t even been processed. I don’t know if they will agree to go for it or not.
I take test 1 tomorrow (basic skills). So if I pass, that’s one down and one to go.
—des
Earlier in my career a district wouldn’t get a waiver when I had been hired to be a long term sub for a hard to fill SDC position on an an emergency credential. :shock: Some of the parents found out I had an emergency credential and it didn’t sit well with them not to mention…It didn’t matter that I was licensed by the state as an SLP, :oops: what mattered to the parents and the district was I didn’t have a “teaching credential.”
The district didn’t hire me until I had a clear credential as it was too much liability for them. The reason why….t’s litigation land and it looks much better in court to have fully credentialed teachers and SLP’s on staff than people on emergencies and waivers… My experience and years as an educational therapist/SLP meant absolutely nothing to the parents…. :roll: or school district….they want someone with a credential…plain and simple.
I now have my “teaching credentials” They were harder for me to get than my state licensure… To renew the credential every five years I have to do 150 hours of Continuing Education…
Take it from me… just finish what you have to do and get your credential… :lol: