The Leman Academy of Excellence is a charter school for students in grades K-8 with campuses in Arizona and Colorado. It’s a public school, but not a traditional district school. Its teaching philosophy is the Trivium of Classical Education, which is aligned with children’s learning processes and emphasizes advanced thinking skills.
Leman Academy is an example of an alternative educational choice for your child. Charter
schools are open to all students as long as they have the seating capacity for them, are free to attend, and follow alternative learning methods such as Classical Education; Montessori instruction; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) instruction; the fine arts, or an emphasis on career education.
Does the law of Arizona require teachers to be certified? No, they do not. In fact, it’s interesting to note that as of August 9, 2017, Senate Bill 1042, signed by Governor Doug Ducey, states public district schools can hire teachers who do not have formal training. However, most traditional school teachers possess a state teaching certificate as proof of their educational training and have met state requirements.
Let’s dive into this issue to better understand teacher qualifications in charter schools. Just because a teacher doesn’t have a state license doesn’t mean the teacher is unqualified. It’s important that as you search for the best school for your child, you understand the teacher qualifications in the schools you’re considering.
What Does Certification Mean for Teachers?
When teachers apply for positions in traditional public schools, they usually possess at least a bachelor’s degree in education. The next step is to acquire teaching certificates for their fields of education. This demonstrates proof of passing the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA). In addition, they may renew their certificates after proof of 15 hours of professional development for every year certificates are held. The purpose of state certification is to demonstrate expertise, education, and experience of educators’ ability to teach well.
Now let’s see how that compares to the qualification requirements of charter schools in Arizona.
Arizona’s Certification Requirements for Charter School Teachers
Charter schools are permitted to set their own requirements for hiring teachers; however, some charter schools may still require their teachers to obtain state certification. Typically, charter schools require teachers to hold a bachelor’s degree, pass a state background check, and obtain a valid fingerprint clearance card. One exception to this flexibility, however, is that in charter schools, teachers of special education must have a valid Arizona teaching certificate. It should be noted as well that schools seek teachers who are aligned with their goals and missions.
Qualifications for teachers in Arizona’s 580 charter schools today are outlined in their school’s charter application. In addition:
- Schools must maintain resumes of all employees, which can be requested by parents
- Some schools may require teachers to be in the process of obtaining certification
- Some teachers without a certificate may have to meet other requirements, such as having relevant experience or passing an exam.
The Leman Academy of Excellence is committed to helping teachers attain their teaching
certificates. They may be hired with a degree in the same field in which they teach, but they’re required to become certified to the level of Arizona’s state requirements. Thus, Leman’s teachers are either certified or are subject matter experts in the process of being certified.
Schools unlike Leman Academy that don’t require certification may hire teachers who have in-depth subject matter knowledge; for example, they may hire a vocal musician to teach the school’s choir. They may hire someone with an advanced degree to teach a related subject; a mechanical engineer could be employed to teach mathematics or physics. Schools may also hire someone with significant experience in a field to teach it, such as an architect to teach design.
Additionally, professional development (PD) is the ongoing training that teachers receive to keep current with teaching methodologies, training, and trends. Schools plan specific times for PD in their school year calendar. For example, Colorado has certain PD days built into their calendar. On these days, while students do not report to school, all the teachers and/or staff must report for training sessions.
Likewise, Arizona’s schools have scheduled time for PD in the form of early release days when students are dismissed early. Their meetings also include district-wide PD days on school campuses.
New teachers may have extra PD such as those who teach at Leman Academy. New teachers at Leman have “Leman U days” to learn about this charter school’s teaching philosophy, policies, and routines.
Benefits and Challenges of Flexibility in Certification
Inherent in charter schools’ flexible hiring practices, is the ability to employ diverse talent,
specialized experts, and innovative educators. Regardless of schools’ best hiring practices, no doubt you may have some concerns regarding consistency and quality. Recall that charter schools’ hiring practices are contained within their charters. You can go to schools’ specific websites to learn more about teacher qualifications for either charter or traditional schools.
If you select The Leman Academy of Excellence charter school for your child, you will find
exceptional teachers thoroughly versed in their subject matter. Leman Academy ensures quality teaching by hiring only subject matter experts and requiring them to attain certification as an agreement of their employment. Leman’s staff teaches according to the Classical Education model, receiving considerable professional support.
What Parents Should Consider When Choosing a Charter School
Choosing a school that matches your child’s academic needs, strengths, and personality is a major task and no doubt you want to find the “perfect” school for your child. Here are some tips to consider while investigating your choices:
- Review teacher credentials and experience
- Observe the classroom and student-teacher interactions
- Ask about professional development opportunities
- Inquire about teacher evaluation processes
- Take a look at the classroom’s decor, educational posters, etc., to learn more about the teacher’s values and philosophy
- Inquire about the school’s communication practices with parents
- Check out the technology used in the school
- Ask about the teacher retention rate
- Ask the school about teacher collaboration practices
- Inquire about student feedback
Do not hesitate to ask school leaders or teachers anything that is important for you to know. Good schools will accommodate your concerns, answering all your questions to the best of their ability.
In Conclusion: Consider Teacher Qualifications First
Since Arizona does not require its teachers to be state-certified, it’s important to find out more about teacher qualifications in your choice of school. Remember that while credentials tell us a teacher’s level of training, it’s the teacher’s experience and depth of knowledge that determines the teacher’s ability to successfully engage with your children.Learn more about Leman Academy’s exceptional teaching team. Visit one of their campuses and experience the Leman difference firsthand.