WooHoo! I'm (officially) a teacher!

blueheaven · Post by **blueheaven** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 2:26 pm

I know, I've been teaching for two years now. However, I've been doing so on borrowed time. You see, the wonderful people who made No Child Left Behind(Ted Kennedy and GW Bush) added a clause where teachers have to meet certain criteria by June 30th, 2006 in order to keep their jobs. Those criteria are...

Must have a degree in their subject area
Must Hold a Teaching License with all provisions removed
Must pass the Praxis II PLT exam

Well, I have the degree and a teaching license, but it had one provision on it: I had not passed the Praxis II exam, Principles of Learning and Teaching Grades 7-12.

It costs $85 to take the test, and I failed by one point the last time I took it. I took the exam again on 4/29, and just got the score in the mailbox today! Passing is 161, my score was a 168! I am over the moon right now, because that is a major hurdle cleared. I know teachers who have taken that exam three or four times, and it only took me twice. I am going to celebrate tonight! According to the state of Nevada, I am now HQT(a Highly Qualified Teacher).

ljupco · Post by **ljupco** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 2:32 pm

Congrats

Post by **JWR** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 2:39 pm

Congrats Brian

I'm sure a very large weight has been lifted so you can now get back to twisting err molding the young minds of your students.

kittens · Post by **kittens** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 3:14 pm

Congrats!!!

But you are a teacher! This is cool (or pretty funny

ok ok kidding kidding

)!!!

hyelakingsfan · Post by **hyelakingsfan** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 3:38 pm

Congrats on getting to that spot!

Elfstalker · Post by **Elfstalker** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 3:52 pm

Congrats! Have a pile of sushi and sake!

aernath · Post by **aernath** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 4:25 pm

[shadow=cyan]CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!![/shadow]

Here's to gaining a bit more respect from those that required the proof from you.

blueheaven · Post by **blueheaven** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 4:31 pm

That's about all it boils down to, Perv-Chan. This is nothing more than a monkey off my back. It stinks that teachers might be fired this year for simply not having an endorsement on their license. And the DOE estimates that around 20% of all teachers in the US are not meeting HQT status. My license said that I had until 2008 to remove the provision, but NCLB says that we have to have HQT status by June 2006. It's weird. Funny thing is that this also means a pay increase for me, around 4%. Next stop, National Board Certification.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 4:32 pm

I can wait. I am a very patient robot.

transmet · Post by **transmet** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 4:36 pm

Way to go BH! That's very good news indeed.

Teach 'em well, my friend. That way, they'll always remember you.

shellie · Post by **shellie** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 4:49 pm

BIG congrats, Bri!!

Baakay · Post by **Baakay** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:45 pm

Ah yes! The Pointless Test!! er, Praxis!!

Congrats, that is a highly meaningful meaningless test to have passed.

Thumb yer nose at the people who think that passing or not passing it means a hill of beans. If you've been teaching for several years and they still want you to do it and you're still enjoying it, that means ever so much more to the kids than whether or not you've passed the Praxtice. It means you're doing it right!!

OTOH... now it's DONE. Have a beer with the bunny, you deserve it!

RalphVboy · Post by **RalphVboy** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:12 pm

Congrats, Brian! Glad to see that you've passed the test and are going to still be able to teach

. Wishing you and your students the best of luck ^_^

- RalphVboy

Olivier · Post by **Olivier** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 11:30 pm

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!

purple-plum · Post by **purple-plum** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 12:29 am

yay!!! congrats!!!!!!

~kt