|
Educator Essentials
NEWS YOU CAN USE
December 2024
|
|
Welcome to the December edition of Educator Essentials, brought to you by the State Board of Education team. This monthly newsletter will keep you in the know with important updates about Educator Licensure, Professional Conduct, Educator Evaluations, Teacher of the Year, and more. |
|
2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year Shares Her Journey in Education
Daneé Pinckney, 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year, recently shared with State Board of Education staff about her journey as an educator. Read about her pathway to becoming a teacher, her experiences since her OTOY nomination, and her passion for motivating others to be successful in the field of education here.
|
|
|
New Interim Resident Educator License Available Soon
In accordance with recent legislation, the new Interim Resident Educator license will soon be available for applicants. The 1-Year Interim Resident Educator license will be issued only at the request of the superintendent or chief administrator of the school, district, or educational service center to candidates who have not yet successfully completed exam requirements for standard Resident Educator licensure. This renewable license will be valid in only the employing Ohio school or district that requests it for eligible candidates. Review eligibility requirements on the Interim Resident Educator License webpage.
|
|
|
Spotlight on Licensure: Supplemental Licensure Pathway
Educators who hold an active, standard Ohio teaching license and need an additional licensure area for employment in an Ohio school or district should consider the Ohio Supplemental pathway to a new license or endorsement. Educators working under a supplemental teaching license are properly certified in the supplemental licensure area while completing this pathway. Additionally, educators are permitted to teach in a supplemental licensure area for up to 60 days while completing content area exam requirements for the initial supplemental license. Educators must have an active, standard Ohio teaching license and a pending application for the supplemental license to be eligible for this conditional employment.
|
|
|
Rapback Enrollment Timeline for Non-Licensed Employees and Contractors
Those non-licensed school personnel that are required to be enrolled in Rapback should be enrolled by January 31, 2025. Non-licensed school employees and contractors are required to be enrolled in Rapback if they have routine interaction with a student or regular responsibility for the care, custody, and control of a student. The school or district must determine the level of student interaction for a given position, however the following positions are commonly included: food service personnel, custodians, building secretaries or administrators, and other contractors and employees who interact with students. Visit the Rapback Expansion webpage for more information.
|
|
|
School District Hiring Resources Available
The State Board of Education's Office of Professional Conduct is here to support schools and districts during the hiring process. Schools and districts are required to check the educator profile database prior to making any hiring decision and are permitted to request referrals from the Office of Professional Conduct. The Office of Professional Conduct will provide any mandatory school district referrals in response to these requests.
|
|
|
 |
|
Happy Holidays From the State Board of Education Team
Warmest wishes to you this holiday season. We look forward to continuing to serve you in 2025.
|
|
|
|
The State Board of Education is seeking public comment on the following:
-
Ohio Standards for Professional Learning - 2024 Draft. Review the draft here. The deadline for submitting public comments for this draft is December 20, 2024.
-
Rule 3302-24-05 of the Ohio Administrative Code. Review the proposed revisions to this licensure rule here. The deadline for submitting public comments for this rule is January 9, 2025.
|
|
|
Empowering Ohio’s Future Teachers: The Ohio Department of Higher Education offers the Grow Your Own Teacher Scholarship Program—an initiative designed to support Ohio’s school districts in recruiting their own students and staff to pursue careers in teaching.
About the Program: The Grow Your Own Scholarship recipients commit to teaching for at least four years in their home school district. In return, they receive a scholarship of up to $7,500 per year for four years. This financial support enables aspiring educators to focus on professional development while building lasting roots within their communities.
Who Can Nominate? Ohio schools facing challenges in attracting and retaining licensed teachers are encouraged to participate, including:
- Public school districts
- Joint vocational districts
- Educational service centers
- Community schools
- STEM schools
- Chartered nonpublic schools
- Nonchartered nonpublic schools
Nomination Details:
|
|
|
Renewal applications for 2025 are now available! Educators whose licenses expire June 30, 2025, and who have met renewal requirements, can avoid the summer rush and longer processing times by submitting their online applications now.
|
|
Please be aware of these approaching deadlines and important dates.
-
12/17 | Resident Educator Program Coordinator Monthly Meet-up
-
12/25 | Christmas and Hanukkah holidays
-
1/1 | New Year's Day holiday
-
1/13 | State Board of Education meeting
-
1/20 | Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday
-
1/31 | Timeline for non-licensed personnel to be enrolled in Rapback
|
|
Stay connected with the State Board of Education on our website, X, LinkedIn, and more. See our latest news, events and share with friends. Click on the icons below to follow and engage with us! |
|
|
|
