HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS OF READING

 

by Dr. Nancy Steffel

University of Indianapolis

 

      It is becoming abundantly clear that having the specialty Teacher of Reading License on your resume greatly enhances your candidacy for employment. Principals are aware of their schools’ need to have the best prepared teachers for their ever–challenging students and are, therefore, seeking Teacher of Reading licensed new teachers.  In a recent interview with our newly graduated teachers, I learned that their Teacher of Reading License had helped to distinguish them from other teacher applicants, helping to secure interviews and subsequent job offers.   At our UIndy Future Teacher Recruitment Day on February 19th, Blair Schneider explained that his principal in Avon Schools especially hired him to teach the high-risk kindergarten classes because he had the reading license.

     Information about the popularity of the Teacher of Reading License among the hiring school districts has gotten back to our teacher candidates.  More and more of them are now fulfilling the additional coursework to earn this license. During the first year we offered the license, we had 30 percent of our elementary education graduates receive it; the second year, 50 percent; and now the third year, 80 percent.  Since most of the coursework for the Teacher of Reading License is part of our standard elementary education curriculum, our teacher candidates only have to take an additional seminar with practicum work completed concurrently in their second student teaching placement during their senior year.

      Indiana students deserve the best-prepared teachers to work with them in schools.  To distinguish new teachers as “Highly Qualified” should require that they meet the Teacher of Reading standards for licensure.