A new teacher certification process gives field professionals the opportunity to pass on their knowledge.
The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE), which began for Missouri in August, requires a candidate to hold a bachelor's degree, complete the ABCTE exam and finish 60 hours of classroom experience. This certification qualifies a teacher for secondary education, but does not certify for early childhood, elementary, or special education, according to the Missouri Elementary and Secondary Education Department
The areas possible for certification include English, biology, chemistry, general studies, mathematics, physics, and U.S. or world history.
Maryville R-II School District intends to look at all candidates, including those with the new alternative certification, to find the best teacher for a position, Superintendent Vicki Miller said.
When a school in the Maryville Public School district opens a vacancy, the schools begin a search process. A teacher usually gives notice of a resignation in February, March, or April, Miller said.
The school searches for a new candidate in the spring, posting the available position on common teacher web sites, Miller said.
Principals screen and interview the applicants, often with the help of a committee. The prospective teachers then meet with the superintendent and then the board of education makes the final decision.
The application process includes providing credentials, recommendations, and transcripts.
Maryville High School principal Jason Eggers understands that this alternative certification option is very new.
It does provide more options in areas like mathematics and science, where teachers are harder to find, Eggers said.
The ABCTE helps teachers "meet the paperwork side" but puts pressure on the schools to make sure the applicants are qualified in all areas, Eggers said.
"The good thing is most schools work on that continuously," Eggers said.
While all applicants may apply, Miller is skeptical of the new certification.
"I'm not sure they'll be as prepared for the instructional part of teaching," Miller said.
While life experience is valuable, the education part can be more complicated, Miller said.
"A teacher needs to know how kids learn," Miller said.
This includes having a variety of teaching methods to fall back on for different students and their needs, Miller said.
Those teaching methods include understanding age, behavior and classroom management issues.
The school takes some of the responsibility to help the teachers develop these skills, Eggers said.
"The certification does open the door for someone who didn't know they wanted to teach," Eggers said.
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