Can you'all help?? Possible job offer

(1) TAKE THE DARNED JOB! A job in the hand is worth two in the bush.
You’re probably by far the most competent, experienced, and qualifiesd applicant they have. You may be the only qualified applicant they have. In fact, if you don’t take it, they may end up hiring somebody else without a certificate anyway — I’ve seen a math PhD replaced by an uncertified biology teacher, happens all the time. TAKE THE DARNED JOB!

(Of course, I *am* presuming here that you have thought this through and really want the job. If not, think out the pros and cons now, and say yes or no on what you want, *not* on paperwork.)

(2) Register immediately for the tests. Keep a copy of your registration form and the check you send in. Then keep a copy of the test registration that they send back to you. These are your proof of good faith. Photocopy everything. Also photocopy job contract when you sign it.
If you have the test registaration form and job contract, include a second photocopy with the letter as noted; if they aren’t available right away, *don’t* delay sending the letter — you can always add more paperwork to a file later.

(3) Letter format:

Department of Education, Office of _______
Dear Sir/Madam
I have been offered a _________ teaching position at __________ School in _______ for the 2004-2005 school year. As I was offered this position very recently, in July of 2004, and therefore discovered my need for the ________ tests for appropriate teaching certification only at this time, I will be taking the tests as soon as possible in July and August of 2004 and then will be sending the results for renewal of my teaching certificate.
Until the new certificate can be processed, can you please extend my present certification until December 2004?
You will find a copy of my present teaching certificate [and test registration and employment contract] attached. Please contact me at any time if more information is needed. Thank you very much for your help.
(signed, address, phone #, email, date, teaching certificate number)

Hi,

I asked the director quite directly, are you offering me the position if the certification question can be sorted out, and he said yes. I said I was interested in the position and wanted it. I would imagine I would be the most qualified if they interviewed 20 other people which I don’t think they did (just a guess here). I am also not sure they interviewed anybody either, as when I interviewed with him he was not entirely sure how many positions he had open or anything like that. He did not seem to indicate that he could take a non-certified person. OTOH, I know for a fact that there is a serious teacher shortage in NM, so I know that schools will need to take noncertified people. I guess it is a matter of the amt of competition for the position, and whether they think they could find someone who was certified. In fact, they might take a less qualified but certified person, which is insane of course. But who said this all has anything to do with sanity. As anybody knows the testing is meaningless, even more meaningless than 90% of the education courses I took– but there it is. The fact that he wants to work with me, indicates to me that he would not want to do this or that no one else is available.

Your proposed letter is very good. I think I should mention that I did not teach using the certificate, as there is goign to be a question of why I didn’t use take the damn tests already. The guy at the board of ed that I talked to seemed to think that that was a factor working against me. That several opportunities to take the tests had come and gone.

I can also only register for the July 17 test right now. I will indeed photocopy the registration and could print out the schedule of tests and registration dates. The director said he would send me a statement to send to the head of licensure something to the effect of thinking that i am the best person for this position.

Thanks,

—des

OK, there’s no need to mention that you did not teach — or at least you can put a positive spin on it, ie

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

I have been working as a private tutor and therefore have not proceeded with the state certification process, until the present time when I have a position offer in a charter school and so can continue it.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Note that in many states you *can’t* get certification unless you’re actively working in a public school, so this makes perfect sense.
There is no need whatever to say how many students you have tutored or anything else; none of their business.

The model letter I gave above clearly states that the offer just arrived now, so of course it’s reasonable that you are now doing the paperwork — all straight and above-board

Congrats on the job offer!!! It sounds good and may provide some contacts if you decide you prefer tutoring.

Beth

Beth, I’d prefer tutoring. I just can’t make ends meet.
I can continue to take on clients to some extent though. However the position sounds interesting. They are not just interested in accommodations and adaptations but in having the kids disabilities remediated.

Now I have an additional question: The director/principal said he would write a letter to the board of ed. on my behalf. I called today and he suggested I call back tomorrow morning as he was just leaving, and give him some suggestions as to what he could say that may help.

Any ideas here? I was thinking in terms of if he was not able to find candidates for the position that would help. Also if he did if I was the best qualified. Any comments?

—des

Hi, des,

The job sounds good! All I can say is, there IS a teacher shortage in most states and they hire people without current certification ALL THE TIME!!! Good grief. They give people provisional certificates for a year (here) and that gives you time to take tests, classes, or whatever to get certified. I’d be highly surprised if NM has a surplus of special ed. teachers!

I agree with what you and Victoria said. Tell them you have been a full-time private tutor and only realized the need to renew the certificate when you talked to the charter school. Try to get a provisional certificate for a year to give you time to take (and even retake, if needed) the tests.

Also, check and see if there aren’t study guides for the tests. I know this state uses the Praxis, and there are published study guides.

Good luck!
Janis

Hi, des,

>The job sounds good! All I can say is, there IS a teacher shortage in most states and they hire people without current certification ALL THE TIME!!! Good grief.

Yes, there is definitely a special ed teacher shortage here! The school in question may not want to hire non-certified people (indeed I think that they have in the past). The slight complication is that I *had* a one year certificate. Of course that doesn’t mean they won’t still have a shortage.

>I agree with what you and Victoria said. Tell them you have been a full-time private tutor and only realized the need to renew the certificate when you talked to the charter school. Try to get a provisional certificate for a year to give you time to take (and even retake, if needed) the tests.

I included the info Victoria gave. I think it was a good letter. I slightly revised to my own writing patterns.

>Also, check and see if there aren’t study guides for the tests. I know this state uses the Praxis, and there are published study guides.

Yes, they have one. I have seen it and it isn’t too terrific. The thing that looks like it would help me the most is to get more info on a single grade. Several fo the elementary questions are short essay and ask that you pick a single grade and give answers from that point of view. Since I have never taught in a single grade, I think it would be advantageous to study up from a particular point of view. (I’m guessing it will be 3rd or 4th grade as I have had the most experience with normal kids there.)

>Good luck!
Janis[/quote]

—des

Hi,

Thanks all. I sent my letter today. The director of the school wrote an extremely nice letter for me, describing me as highly qualified, etc.

Funny thing though. The Board of Ed has its own definition of “highly qualified”, listing none of the things that I would consider highly qualified but rather someone who has taken several different tests!!!! Apparently, this has something to do with NCLB? (Otherwise known as NCLU*) What this has to do with teaching children is anyone’s guess!
Thought you’all’d be amused by that.

—des

*No test left untaken :-)

I think the connection between not teaching and not taking the tests is obviousl… you didn’t take the tests because you weren’t lined up for a teaching job. There are infinite valid reasons for not jumping into full-time teaching; it just wasn’t in your “life picture” at that time. It is, of course, not as “good” as having been so beckoned by the call of teaching that you couldn’t stay away… but hey, there’s a shortage for a reason or twelve.

Regardless of whether it’s a perfect fit I suspect you’ll be a lot better than the “next candidate” for the job, down the line… so when you’re not perfect, no flogging allowed. (Hint: it doesn’t work, anyway.)

>is, of course, not as “good” as having been so beckoned by the call of teaching that you couldn’t stay away… but hey, there’s a shortage for a reason or twelve.

Well actually I did teach, whether they call it teaching. :-)

> Regardless of whether it’s a perfect fit I suspect you’ll be a lot better than the “next candidate” for the job, down the line… so when you’re not perfect, no flogging allowed. (Hint: it doesn’t work, anyway.)[/quote]

Hey who’s perfect. I said I thought it would be a extremely good match or somesuch, not that it is perfect. There are no such animals.

—des