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Licensing Advisor Weekly Update
I apologize for not sending out licensing advisor updates in the recent past. However, we are reviving it and will be sending out updates on a regular basis from now on. We are interested in any topics or issues that you would like to be updated on. If you have topics, please e-mail them to Shawn Sriver at ssriver@doe.in.gov or to Terri Banks at tbanks@doe.in.gov. There will not be an update next week (November 4) as I will be out of the office all next week. Assistant Director of Assessment, Induction and Continuing Education We are pleased to announce the hiring of Debby Williams as the new Assistant Director of Assessment, Induction and Continuing Education. Debby has a wealth of experience as a teacher and elementary principal. Her first day will be on October 30. MISUSE OF PRAXIS SCORES Individual test scores are not required for determining HQ status rather determination is based on passing Praxis II in the specific content area. This deems actual test scores irrelevant to determining HQ status. If a teacher has taken Praxis II in a content area and verifies that s/he has passed the test in that content area, then s/he is considered highly qualified. Test scores are considered confidential and are handled accordingly. In those rare instances when the division honors requests to provide specific Praxis II test scores, DPS provides this information ONLY to the individual test taker at his or her written request. This also extends to the National Teacher’s Exam (NTE) Core Battery or Specialty Area tests. Please see the attached letter from the Educational Testing Service outlining the policy regarding acceptable and unacceptable uses of Praxis test scores. Contact Shawn Sriver: ssriver@doe.in.gov with any further questions. IMAP FOR SCHOOL SERVICES Beginning July 1, 2006, individuals receiving a Rules 2002 initial practitioner license for school counseling or school social worker must complete the Indiana Mentoring and Assessment Program (IMAP). Individuals must be assigned a trained mentor. Below are guidelines for the mentoring requirements:
Currently, there are 44 trained school counseling mentors. Superintendents or a designee can obtain a list of trained mentors from Jessica Meadows at jmeadows@doe.in.gov. Mentors for beginning school counselors may be from the same district but should not be from the same building. In addition, the mentor to be assigned must not have an evaluative role over the beginning school counselor. If no mentor is available within the school district, it is appropriate to use a mentor from another school district. If no trained mentor is available, an experienced school counselor may be assigned providing s/he is willing to attend a future training session. Please note: Teacher mentors are not to be assigned to beginning school counselors. Counselors interested in becoming trained mentors may attend the two day workshop conducted by the Indiana School Counseling Association (ISCA). Training sessions are held at Butler University in Indianapolis on February 1 and May 3. For more details about the training, please contact Lin Metzger at: lsmetzger@kconline.com or access the ISCA website at: http://isca-in.org/. For additional questions about the program, please contact Shawn Sriver at ssriver@doe.in.gov. Beginning counselors who hold a Rules 46-47 license are not required to complete the IMAP program. Because of our delayed notification, we are extending the date for enrollment from October 10 until December 10.
Currently, there are 14 trained school social work mentors across the state of Indiana. Superintendents or a designee can obtain a list of trained mentors from Jessica Meadows at jmeadows@doe.in.gov. If no mentor is available within the school district, it is appropriate to use a mentor from another school district. The mentor to be assigned must not have an evaluative role over the beginning school social worker. Please note: Other school personnel mentors are not to be assigned to beginning school social workers for the purpose of completing requirements for the IMAP-SW program. School Social Workers interested in becoming trained mentors may attend the two day workshop conducted by the Indiana School Social Work Association (INSSWA). Training sessions are held three times a year at locations across the state. For more details about the training, please contact Sharon Simmons at ssimmons1@usi.edu. Summary of Qualifications for Certified School Social Worker Mentors A certified school social work mentor is a proficient practitioner who:
Any school social worker having these credentials who has retired within the past five years is eligible to be a mentor. Beginning school social workers who hold a Rules 46-47 license are not required to complete the IMAP program. Because of our delayed notification, we are extending the date for enrollment from October 10 until December 10.
Both areas are in the final stages of the development of an IMAP program. As a result, we will continue issuing Rules 46-47 licenses until July 1, 2007. License Surrenders and Revocations I have attached an excel spreadsheet which lists the teachers who have recently had a license revoked. |
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Indiana Department of Education |
