Click here to view facts and faq's about certification.  Florida certification is obtained either by degree major in the academic/vocational area for which you wish to be certified, OR by having completed specialized coursework which would qualify you for the desired certification selection.

Effective July 1, 2002, a passing score earned on a Florida subject area examination will qualify you to be initially certified in that area with no additional specialized coursework needed if you:

• Hold a Bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution in any area.
   

• Take and pass a Florida subject area examination for an area equal to that which could be obtained with a Bachelor’s degree and no specialized requirements

Areas excluded from this provision are:  Reading, Guidance/Counseling, School Psychologist, Educational Leadership, and Speech/Language Impaired.

Test registration booklets and information may be obtained on-line from:  www.firn.edu/doe/sas/ftcefhome.htm.
 

Click here to view the districts Alternative Certification website.  Alternative certification programs in Florida are designed to prepare newly hired teacher who qualifies for a Temporary Certificate and who must complete training in education course to obtain a Professional Certificate.  Alternative certification courses are offered on-line and at the Schultz Center.
 

As teachers, we are legally bound by a code of ethics: the State Board of Education Rule 6B-1.006, FAC—The Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida.  You will receive a copy of the Code of Ethics each with your teacher handbook.  Though quite lengthy, a quick overview of the code includes three obligations that we have as teachers.

1. Obligation to the student
2. Obligation to the public
3. Obligation to the profession of education

Click here to view the Teacher Yearly Calendar with holidays, planning days, early dismissal days, and more.
 

The No Child Left Behind Act was signed by President George W. Bush on January 8, 2002.  This educational reform is based on:

• Stronger accountability for results
• More freedom for states and communities
• Encouraging proven education methods
• More choices for parents

NCLB mandates that all states produce annual stand and school district report cards that inform parents and communities about state and school progress.  School that do not make progress must provide supplemental services, such as free tutoring or after-school assistance; take corrective actions; and, if still not making adequate yearly progress after five years, make dramatic changes to the way the school is run.
 

Once a year, a member of administration will visit your classroom for a formal evaluation.  They will use evaluative instruments:  Classroom Observation Instrument and Evaluation of Professional Growth of Teachers. 

The Evaluation of Professional Growth of Teachers and the Classroom Observation Instrument both cover the following competencies:

1. Demonstrates the ability to plan and deliver instruction.
2. Demonstrates knowledge of subject matter
3. Demonstrates ability to utilize appropriate classroom management techniques, including the ability to maintain appropriate discipline.
4. Show sensitivity to student needs by maintaining positive school environment.
5. Demonstrates the ability to evaluate instructional needs of students.
6. Demonstrates ability to communicate with parents.
7. Demonstrates willingness to assume non-instructional responsibilities.
8. Demonstrates a commitment to professional growth.
9. Demonstrates evidence of professional characteristics.

These instruments grade a teacher according to satisfactory or unsatisfactory.  After evaluation, a teacher will be called in for a formal briefing with the principal, and presented with a formal copy of his/her observation.
 

As a professional educator, it is important that you dress the part.  You represent your school and profession in the way that you dress and behave.  You are a role model for your students and fellow teachers.  Dress as a professional, and you will be treated as such.  Following the Duval County Student Dress Code sets an example with your students and shows that you respect the rules of your school.  Some suggestions include, but are not limited to: 

Men                                                               

• Dress pants/slacks       
• Shirts and ties
• Collared shirts

Women

• Business attire (skirts/pant suits)
• Dress slacks
• Blouses
• Dresses

In addition to your school’s administration, department heads, and standards coach, there are other support and assistance sources available for you.  Some of these support personnel are:

Subject Area Supervisors - For each content area, there is a supervisor with resource teachers that can help you teach and become familiar with the curriculum.  Click here to view a listing of those individuals.

District Standards Coaches - There are Standards Coaches for each Region of the district for both Elementary and Secondary Teachers.  Call 348-5757 to connect with your Regional Standards Coach.

School Technology Contact - Each school has a representative to assist with technology related concerns.  The school technology contact can assist you with installing hardware and software, troubleshooting computer problems, and integrating technology.  There is also a computer help desk available for our county that can be contacted by dialing 348-5200.

Instructional Technology Coordinator - If you are trying to integrate technology into your standards based classroom instruction, the Instructional Technology department can assist you.  There is a coordinator for each region and this individual can help you with your equipment needs, software needs, and classroom connections.  Click here to visit the Instructional Technology website or you can call 348-7116 to connect with your coordinator.

Broadcast and Satellite Services - If you need assistance with your Broadcast and Satellite classroom service, call 348-5757 to connect with a representative of this department.

There are several other departments in the Duval County Public School system.  Click here to view a department listing to learn of the other support personnel available for you.
 

Over the course of a school year, your school will be visited several times by a team of data collectors selected by the Regional Superintendent called the Snapshot Team.  This group’s job is to collect targeted data on Duval County schools’ implementation of a particular aspect of the district’s Framework for Implementation of Standards.  The schools that are visited each month are selected by randomly sampling a group of schools that represent the range of performance in the district.  Visits are arranged in advance between the Snapshot Team and the host principal.  The evidence that the data collectors are looking for and the rubric upon which they will base their judgments will be provided to principals in advance.  Your standards coach, along with other administrative staff, is a tremendous asset during one of these visits.

Data collection in schools will focus on four instructional targets of the frameworks:

1. Understanding and using standards in classrooms
2. School use of safety nets to support students
3. Connecting student work to standards
4. Accountability

2005-2006 Schedule for the Standards Implementation Monitoring System