Teacher Certification

I learned from my local OSPI that the teach cert program through Rio Salado wont work because it is through a community college.
So please please anyone who can advise...I live in WA state and need a program that is regionally accredited and include a student teaching component. Rio Salado was affordable. I am back to square one and wonder, before I get back into the frantic search, if anyone can guide me...?

 

Certificaton

Hello, I would check the WA state web site on alternate route certification and see what they say. I would also check with local schools. * Try the Board of Education office. They may be able to direct you. Hille

 

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Hello Renee

Why don't you simply search "colleges in Washington"? I did and immediately found several (eg, Central Wa and Eastern WA U) which have ed depts.???

 

Re: Re: Teacher Certification

Every college in Washington has an Ed. Dept., but none offer a teaching credential solely through distance learning.

Unfortunately, if they will not accept the program from Rio Salado (which is accepted by 20 states), then you have a problem.

What you can do is get a list from either the Washington Department of Education or from the education department of any college that lists which states have reciprocity with your state. You might be able to complete all of the coursework (at least the pre-student teaching portion) through distance learning from a number of places. You first need to check which state's program will be accepted in transfer.



Tom Nixon
[email protected]

 

Re: Re: Re: Teacher Certification

Check the site at WICHE for programs states with reciprocity with Washington as to tuition.

 

Oregon has an alternate route to teacher certification for people who are mid-career professionals (whatever that means). You need to already have at least a Bachelors degree. If you live close enough to the Oregon border you may be able to work it out that way.
Jack

 

I have searched WA schools as well as looked into the alternative routes to certification. What I am finding is programs that are a suitable time are out of my geographic area, programs in my area are full time and would require I leave my job or are way out of my economic range. The alternatives routes were very exciting to learn about but all of them at this point apply to districts other than the one I work for. I have made contact with most of the schools in WA asking each about programs they might be aware of, off site programs etc. I have been in contact with my local ESD, OSPI and the district I work for. Promising options keep coming up but have had some aspect whereby they do not apply to me. We just had an opportunity come through our district that sounded great but it turns out applies only to those who have spent the last 5 years in some profession besides ED where they can bring some of that experience into the classroom. I am currently working as a paraeducator in the public schools. I will keep searching. The superintendent in my district mentioned hope of a local program starting soon but it is, at this stage, only a hope. Again, we have some local options, just not designed to meet my needs
Thanks, keep the ideas coming. Worst is I have checked it out.
Renee

 

There has been a push for some time now to get military personel interested in teaching careers and many bases offer courses to meet that objective. If you are near a military base I would suggest checking them out. Every course I have taken on a base always had civilians from the community also taking classes.

Ted

 

Thanks Ted.
That is probably the way I will need to go. It is a bit more of a drive (at night) than I would like but at this point I may have exhausted other options. I live near 3 colleges, 1 comm. coll and 2 - 4 year+. One has a program I would like but would mean full time school. Another has individual courses one can plug away at but is a pricey private school. The pricey private school does supports the on base courses for a fraction of the cost but a bit out of the way. I appreciate folks passing along ideas, thoughts etc. Still would love an affordable distance option. I may meet with the base branch campus and find out if they would accept some/any distance credits from elsewhere...I might be able to get a couple in at least in the dark of winter. Thanks.

 

Here in Texas, there are some private OTCPs, but I would not recommend anything that doesn't have a student teaching element to it. I went through iTeachTexas, and did not feel it prepared me at all for the classroom. Then again, I had set out to teach either miiddle school or high school, and I wound up in pre-k. If you want to teach 4-12, the programs are great, but I would recomment the traditional route. Also, at least down here, a lot of larger school districts have their own programs. So, what subject and grade level did you want to teach?

 

I went to University of Phoenix and earned my Masters in Elementary Education. I had to do observations, practicum and one semester of student teaching. I did all of my observations, field work and student teaching locally and they actually flew out a UOP faculty member to observe me twice. At the time I lived in Alaska and they flew her out to Alaska twice! I did the entire thing through distance learning and it had all the necessary accreditation to allow me to sit for the state exam here in Texas. As a result, I now have a teaching license in the state of Texas. So it is definitely possible to do this 100 percent via DL.

 

Ted, they may not be well advised to push military personal to get teaching credentials. In many states the job outlook for teachers is not robust. With many states struggling with budget issues, one of the first things they cut is teaching jobs. And rightfully so because it's usually the biggest part of most state budgets. I'm a teacher in California and the situation here is dismal. Fortunately, I have a stable job at a private school but many of my friends have not been so blessed. I don't think it's as bad in other states but I'm told it's not great anywhere.

 

How is the job outlook for teachers in your state? It's not so good in mine.

 

It's crappy. And we have a huge budget defecit. There will be/have been teacher layoffs. The OP states that she works for a district already so perhaps she has an "in". I was actually looking into the Troops to Teachers program, and was looking at getting certified to teach CTE. The people I spoke with indicated to me that most open position had at least 3-5 people who were already certified, with teaching experience, and had worked for the district lined up against them. I thought the IT outlook was bad where I live, the teacher outlook is even worse. There are four schools locally that produce teachers and a lot of people try and stay in this area (Spokane, WA) so the competition is fierce.

If the OP has an in somewhere in the district she may be OK, but otherwise I cannot think of a worse career field to head into (other than IT).

Good luck OP.

PS:
Check out WGU. I know that the WA-OSPI will accept their DL program for licensure in the state.

 

Sometimes Phoenix gets a bad rap on this board (as well as other places) but this is a case where Phoenix seems to have gone above and beyond in order to make it work. This might be the most positive story I've ever heard about the University of Phoenix.

 

Very true - in my area local school districts have cut their teaching staff by more than 20%, cut teacher benefits, laid off those with least seniority, increased class sizes up to 40 students, and cut arts programs. The irony is that there are several new campuses being built "because the money comes from a different pot."

 

In my area there have been teacher lay-offs, but each area is different, and the OP may have an "in".

Have you investigated Western Gov's State U? They have an online teacher cert. program for people with a bachelor's degree.

Just a thought,

 

Western Governors University offers teacher licensure programs AND is NCATE accredited. The State Board of Educator Certification in Texas accepts WGU’s programs for certification purposes. With NCATE accreditation, it’s probable that Washington State would accept WGU.

Online Teaching Degree | Teacher Certification | WGU Teachers College Online

 

Unless you're teaching mathematics...tread softly.

Having successfully navigated just such an example (CTE gig with 45 applicants), it was a hard decision to leave after this school year. Health care IT looks more stable in the short term than this CTE position. Our district has not felt the impact of teacher layoffs (yet) but the county we take our marching directives from just announced a number of layoffs. Methinks the axe is at the root of the tree.

-Steve King

 

The axe is half-way through the tree at this point.

More than 80% of U.S. school districts are expected to eliminate jobs and more than half will likely freeze hiring during the upcoming school year, an education organization said Tuesday.

Article here.

Perhaps a lat move into healthcare is in order? I can think of no good reason for anyone to choose a career in teaching or IT for that matter.

Or...you can keep your head in the sand. Either way good luck.