Lowcountry school districts report few teacher vacanciesBy Diette Courrégé (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Teacher vacanciesCharleston has had a tough time filling its teacher vacancies in the past. Here's a look at the teacher openings left in Lowcountry schools as of Friday. Berkeley County: 12 full-time, one part-time Charleston County: Three full-time and one part-time Dorchester 2: One full-time Dorchester 4: No vacancies Past storyCharleston County filling teaching posts; Streamlining helps school district exceed goal with only 37 vacancies left, published 08/09/07 Charleston County School District traditionally has struggled to ensure that all of its classrooms have teachers on the first day of school. But officials said on Friday that they only have three full-time and one part-time teaching positions still open — a record low for the district. "This is the 'victory in the classroom' playing out in a real, concrete and positive way," said schools Superintendent Nancy McGinley. "I'm just thrilled about it. I really am." This year marks the second consecutive year the district will start the school year with fewer teaching vacancies than the previous year. Just two years ago, the school year began with 100 teaching positions vacant. That number was reduced to 29 last year. Across the Lowcountry, school districts have relatively few openings left to fill with all schools starting next week. Dorchester District 2 only had one open position, and it's for a special education teacher. Dorchester District 4 filled all of its openings. Berkeley County had the highest number of openings, with 10 special education, one fifth grade, one middle school math and one part-time music teacher vacancies. School leaders say it's critical to have a highly qualified teacher in every classroom from the first day so students don't miss out on valuable instruction. Charleston began its hunt for teachers with about 450 openings, compared with 280 in Berkeley, 250 in Dorchester 2 and 20 in Dorchester 4. School districts across the state struggle to fill teaching jobs in areas such as math and special education, and they say that's because of a teacher shortage in those fields. One strategy Bill Briggman, director of Charleston County schools' teacher employment office, used to fill those jobs was having district recruiters specialize in certain areas. No vacancies remain in special education or math, he said. The teacher recruitment office communicates more with principals who have vacancies, Briggman said. Before, the recruitment office might have continued to send candidates to schools because it hadn't received formal paperwork that the position was filled, but now, the staff talks to principals often, he said. Another helpful change has been a more streamlined hiring process in which candidates apply online. Principals can use any computer to see every job applicant, whereas they used to have to go to the district office and sift through files, Briggman said. McGinley said a change in state law that eliminated constituent boards from the district's hiring process also helped the district's recruitment efforts. Dorchester 2's goal is to not have any vacancies on the first day, and, usually, the district comes close to doing that, said Linda Huffman, personnel director for the district. The school district didn't have any vacancies until two weeks ago when a special education teacher moved, she said. Hiring teachers is a top priority, Huffman said, and principals and assistant principals constantly are working to find the best candidates. The district hosts a job fair, and school leaders also travel to teacher surplus states, such as Ohio and Michigan, to find applicants, she said. Dorchester 2, which has a reputation for academic excellence, is a place teachers want to work, she said. It's known for the priority that's placed on students and teachers, and teachers are attracted to schools where they will feel valued and supported, Huffman said. Reach Diette Courrégé at 937-5546 or dcourrege@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 16 comment(s)
Posted by mac0cm4 on August 16, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How many of the teachers filling the positions are state-certified teachers? - Not the ones teaching on 'emergency' or 'provisional' certificates. Go to the state Dept of Education website - you might be surprised to see how many of those are in the local schools. (Want an eye opener, compare local schools to those like Battery Creek in Beaufort or another school in a smaller county).
Posted by halfsheli on August 16, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Many of those with emergency or provisional certification are certified in other states (many of which have more stringent requirements than S.C.), so it's not as bad as some might want it to come across as being. These are people who have applied for SC certificates; it's just a matter of time. After all, we can't have positive stories about CCSD circulating around; then what would people whine about.
Posted by charlestonnative1963 on August 16, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Its funny that the districts (all over) are attempting to brag about their no vacancies. What really is occuring is this: State and Federal cutbacks....there will be HUGE numbers of students in each class as they have CUT POSITIONS...here this ... cut positions...33% more students in the room means less time spent for remediating students-which means lower test scores, which means more problems. Hear this..SC jobless rate soars... understand this...less tax money for school NEXT year. More cut backs. Higher teacher to student ratio. Charleston County took all of its teacher coaches (possible waste of money anyway) and put them in the classroom (where they shouldhave been) I have not heard of ONE school system that has not cut the number of teachers.
Posted by charlestonnative1963 on August 16, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Halfshelli...reaserach shows that SC has one of the toughest certification processes in the nation. And the 3rd highest number of National Board Certified Teachers in the nation. Our required score for the PRAXIS (former name was National Teachers Exam)is the highest in the nation. A teacher can teach in 49 other states that have minimum requirements for the Praxis. SC's score must be 675. Just ask a teacher moving to SC from another state just how EASY it is to get a job here. As for the Emergency certificates-they are most likely PACE certificates which are given to persons who possess a college degree in a field such as Biology or math but did not major in teaching. Those persons are put through a hellish certification process in which they travel to Winthrop Univ. several times and sit in long classes and observe the hell out of them...
Posted by halfsheli on August 16, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
native -- I am well aware of the certification process for teachers. My point was certainly not to make it seem as though SC certified teachers are not worthy. My point was that people shouldn't be so negative about the story; that even with teachers who have emergency and provisional certification, CCSD has CAPABLE and QUALIFIED teachers.
Posted by STREETLAW on August 16, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Few vacancies? Not surprising. Word gets around you can get away with murder in the Charleston County School District.
I have a neighbor on James Island who use to get up at 5 am to drive to Summerville to teach. She would not put up with the imcompetence in Charleston County Schools.
Because of a lack of affection in childhood, many students - and their teachers - are sociopathic. They don't want education, they want attention.
And Lord the media gives them plenty of that. What they don't understand is that when you miss out on a mother's love, all the attention in the world will not suffice.
Incarceration is, after all, a form of attention. Being a member of a gang, gets them attention. Being yelled at doesn't phase them. It's attention.
Too bad they can't learn to try and get respect instead.
Maybe we can teach them that. If we do, they will learn what the need to learn.
Posted by I_Love_d_Peninsula on August 16, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A passing score on the Praxis for South Carolina standards is 530.
Posted by I_Love_d_Peninsula on August 16, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I also should add that the passing score varies with each content area. That notwithstanding, this is a very positive story. Good Teachers are hard to find. Let's hope they'll good. Kudos to CCSD!
Posted by I_Love_d_Peninsula on August 16, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I also should add that the passing score varies with each content area. That notwithstanding, this is a very positive story. Good Teachers are hard to find. Let's hope they'll good. Kudos to CCSD!
Posted by I_Love_d_Peninsula on August 16, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sorry for the double entry.
I meant to say, let's hope they are all good! :)
Posted by belovedbliff on August 16, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WoW--so much incorrect info in these posts. PACE can be for anybody with a a college degree as long as that person can make an argument that he has experience in what he is getting certified in. I have a buddy who has a degree in pyschology, doing PACE for drama because he did some acting in L.A. I have a cousin whose PACE degree is special education, though the major was management.
I do agree that there should be no bragging about the low number of vacancies--yet. Let's see how they fare first.
Posted by wythe124 on August 16, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
belovedbiff, you are only partially correct. In order to become certified to teach in the PACE program you MUST have a college degree in the area in the field that you want to teach. Math degree to teach math, business degree to teach business classes ect.
The program that your friend has that is teaching Drama is called DIRECT. This program is another alternative certification program, however in the DIRECT program you can only teach in the area of the program you are hired for, law enforcement, drama, auto body ect.
In the PACE program, we must complete a rigorous program and teach in the critical need field we will be teaching in. Once we have completed the three year program and have our final state certification we can take the PRAXIS for another area to become certified to teach those areas of study, however Praxis exams are very challenging and require a great deal of preparation to pass.
Posted by belovedbliff on August 16, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are mistaken wythe124 about the requirements for PACE. You do not have to have a major in the work that you are being certified in. You can have substantial coursework. Both of my examples as well as my own sister are in the PACE program and they are being certified in subjects for which they had no major, but substantial course work/credit experience.
You really show no more about the program you are in.
Posted by belovedbliff on August 16, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are mistaken wythe124 about the requirements for PACE. You do not have to have a major in the work that you are being certified in. You can have substantial coursework. Both of my examples as well as my own sister are in the PACE program and they are being certified in subjects for which they had no major, but substantial course work/credit experience.
You really should know more about the program you are in.
Posted by wythe124 on August 16, 2008 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BelovedBliff, I would recommend that you visit the SC Dept. of Education wesite that defines the PACE program:
http://www.scteachers.org/cert/pace/guid...
When you visit this site, look under Elibility Criteria. If you read criteria #1 it says, "a major in the certification area for which the State Board of Education has determined there exists a critical shortage of teachers". There is a very large difference between a major (ie. degree)and substantial coursework.
I DO KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT I AM IN, YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR FACTS BEFORE YOU MAKE STATEMENTS LIKE YOU DID. Igorance is understanable, but speaking out of place is foolish!
Posted by belovedbliff on August 16, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay, I will bite--copied directly from the site. Incidentally, I worked for the State Department in conjunction with Winthrop on the details of the program. Also, as I mentioned I know many people who do not have a major in the degree area in which they are getting certified. If you will talk to your cohorts, you will find this is the case. In any event,
Eligibility Requirements
An earned bachelor’s degree or above from a regionally accredited college with a major in an approved PACE certification area. Participants can be evaluated for a major equivalent if they have thirty or more semester hours earned in content area coursework, twenty-one of which were earned at the junior or senior level or above; or twenty-four or more semester hours earned in content area coursework at the graduate level.
So, did you catch the part where it says Major OR equivalent?
Gee