Bill would allow expedited process toward teacher certification

Noreen Hyslop photo Kurt Lovelady has spent the past two years teaching math on the high school level in Dexter, including Calculus classes to college-bound students. Under a law currently awaiting the governor's signature, college grads whose emphasis was not in the field of education, could qualify for teaching certification. The new allowance comes about due to an increasing shortage of qualified secondary teachers, especially in the areas of math and science.

The program is designed to allow professionals who desire to enter the teaching field to earn their teaching certification in the subjects of math, general science, biology, chemistry, physics, English, U.S. history and world history and is offered by a non-profit organization called The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE).

According to David Saba, ABCTE president, the demand for certified teachers is becoming an ever-growing problem.

In 2004-05," reports Saba, "The demand for new math teachers was 422, while the supply of new teacher graduates was only 122. The demand for new science teachers for 408, while the supply of new teacher graduates was only 113."

Dexter Schools Superintendent Ken Jackson concurs, stating, "Over the past couple of years, we have noticed a shortage of teacher candidates for positions in special education, secondary mathematics and secondary science."

Jackson adds, "At the conclusion of the 2006-07 school year, there were four schools in Stoddard County in need of a secondary science teacher and only one applicant."

With the growing shortage, Dexter administrators have expanded their geographic advertising area, according to Jackson, and have made more contacts with colleges, universities and professional organizations to recruit and employ new teachers.

An Alternative Certification option currently exists for potential educators, but involves a longer route to achieving certification than the proposed Passport to Teaching Program.

The newly proposed bill would allow for those who qualify, having previously earned a bachelor's degree, to pass a multiple-choice exam and to complete a 60-hour student teaching process. Candidates would also complete ABCTE-recommended workshops. Certification would then be administered by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, a Washington-based group. The offer excludes certain areas of concentration and further details and exclusions may be found at the group's website at www.abcte.org.

Jackson cites an increase in the volume of teacher candidates using other than traditional credentials, stating, "Over the past three years we have seen an increase in the number of candidates using the Alternative Certification route and we have been fortunate to hire some quality teachers through that process."

Gov. Matt Blunt, supporting a program that would potentially provide quality teachers within the state, endorses the ABCTE's program, stating, "We need to provide the opportunity for highly motivated people with education and experience in these areas to have the training to bring their expertise to the classroom."

Voicing his opposition to the current route toward certification, Blunt adds, "Missouri's current system of alternative certification of professionals who want to become teachers is too restrictive. I support this alternative, to allow certification through the ABCTE."

As to whether the local system will recognize certification achieved through the proposed bill, Supt. Ken Jackson confirmed, "If it is signed into law, we will use it as one more tool to fill open positions that we cannot fill through conventional methods or practices."