Moscow teacher certified online
LEWISTON— A Moscow woman has become the first teacher in Idaho to be certified from a new computerized test that’s been criticized by the state’s top education official.
Charlotte Kendall opted for the new alternative route to teaching certification adopted in November by the state board of Education, over the objections of State Schools Superintendent Marilyn Howard. Four people have passed the Passport to Teaching program offered by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, but they have not yet received their state certification.
The computer test bypasses some college requirements and provides people with certification for $500. Idaho is the only state to completely embrace the American Board’s computerized certification plan. Pennsylvania initially endorsed the system but then backed away to require at least some in-classroom training, an issue Howard and other lawmakers worry about.
The Idaho state board added a mentoring component offered either by the program or school districts, and the Legislature mandated school districts offer the programs, but it has not provided funding.
“There is little or no evidence that online mentoring or professional development is effective,” Howard said. “My concern about online mentoring is it doesn’t provide any face-to-face response on the learner’s performance. And there is no chance for the mentor to observe the teacher directly.”
Kendall said the fact she lacks the final year of student teaching is not an obstacle to her future ability to teach.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, said the computer certification is driven by a looming teacher shortage.
“We have a shortage of teachers now because of the pay scale. And now we are just finding a mechanism to put bodies into the classroom and call them teachers. If the teacher shortage worsens, we will lower the standards even further,” he said.
Former Sen. Darrel Deide of Caldwell, who now works with the Idahoans for Excellence in Education, a political action committee for charter schools, supports the method. He said bringing in diverse teachers will elevate the status of the profession.
“They’re going to bring a lot of real-life experiences to the classroom and those real-life experiences can help the classroom come alive,” Deide says. “And that’s the secret of teaching: hooking the kids on what you’re teaching and showing them how it is important to them.”
Since receiving her certificate, Kendall has applied in school districts throughout Idaho and Montana.
She said she is convinced there is a place in public education for people like her. And when older, more experienced people are given the chance to teach, she says the public will be pleasantly surprised.
“These are people who know what they want to do. They chose education because they want to teach.
“I can say I have a certificate from Idaho and then the school district will have to decide if they want to hire me. Personally, I think it’s a good certificate. Maybe even better.”
But Howard remains unsure of the quality.
“The jury is still out on the effectiveness of the strategies,” she said.
And as more programs like these are adopted, she said the challenge will be to ensure they meet the state’s expectation for quality.