Everyone working with minors in tech theatre must be CTE certified, says Dept of L&I.
I can only address how it is here in Washington State, in the hopes that you have something similar in Ohio. It may be easier for him to get a CTE endorsement than a Theatre Arts endorsement. Here in WA as soon as you’ve taken the Intro to CTE course (which you can take online) then you are qualified to get your Provisional certification for two years as you take the other courses. You can even get a two year extension. If your TD doesn’t have a Theatre Degree, he may need to go back to school for that route (I’m not sure if the Praxis alone would be sufficient, but maybe?). However a Theatre Arts endorsement is not a CTE endorsement.
It seems states are – finally - cracking down on recognizing that tech theatre is a CTE course, and as someone mentioned, it’s likely because of the safety factors. This is good and bad. Good because it gives us validation as a viable vocational subject, bad because number one the ‘Muggles’ don’t really understand what we do and so make ill informed decisions, and number two because people who are qualified because of experience suddenly aren’t qualified on paper. It’s because the Department of Labor and Industries says, for safety reasons, that no minor shall be doing the type of labor we do in tech theatre (working at heights, working with ‘hoisting equipment’, using power tools, and so on) unless they are in a bona fide vocational program. In our case, a CTE class.
But, get this… I am a high school Theatre Manager (and I have a Theatre Arts certification), and while I don’t teach any classes, I am the advisor for the ASB Tech Theatre Club, and I do work with students in the theatre. So I inquired about becoming CTE certified. I was informed by the WA state superintendent’s office that “Since the program isn’t funded with state or federal CTE funds and doesn’t appear to be a credit-bearing class, OSPI’s requirement that the instructor be CTE certified doesn’t apply.” I inquired further at my district, and I was informed “CTE certification is not necessary for your current role. Therefore, provisional certification is not necessary.” A fellow teacher in another school, who does have the Provisional CTE certification, who recently wanted to purchase something with CTE funds for her Tech Theatre class was told by the district “you do not have a CTE class this year because the class is offered 7th period and we do not fund 7th period classes.”
You can see the disconnect here. The Dept of L&I says:
the rule is that minors doing these activities must be in a CTE course,
but the state and the district are saying:
because the minors aren’t in a CTE course, the rule doesn’t apply.
What!?
I think there’s going to be a disconnect for a while as states and districts try to understand just what we do behind the scenes in tech theatre, and while all of us who do tech theatre with students (whether in a formal class setting or not) get CTE certified – as we should be, according to the Dept of L&I. If it is at all possible, I recommend that your TD get the CTE endorsement on his certificate on his own – if only to cover his own anatomy. (If anyone reading this is not already a certificated teacher, you can, as someone mentioned, approach it from the industry route.) Remember also, that a Theatre Arts endorsement is not a CTE endorsement.
Here is the link to South Seattle Community College’s CTE teacher education courses. It’s mostly online, but there are some Saturday classes, although I believe in the past they may have helped people in other states, so check with them, or look for a similar course in your state. http://www.southseattle.edu/programs/continuing-education/cte/
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Beth Rand
Author of "High School Theatre Operations" and "High School Theatre Safety Manual"
High School Theatre Manager
HS Theatre Management Coach and Instructor - next class starts March 27.
PRESETT, a service of RCDTheatreOps
www.PRESETT.orgWoodinville, WA
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-28-2017 20:40
From: Cynthia Macioce
Subject: English teacher looking to become HQT in Theatre
Hello, Theatre Colleagues,
I need some advice/direction...our Tech Director is also an English teacher at our high school. While he doesn't have a theatre degree, he has been doing the tech end of things for the last seven years and does a nice job. He has also developed curriculum for an Introduction to Tech Theatre class which is now in its second year.
Recently, admins and HR told him that because he isn't an HQT or "Highly Qualified Teacher for the tech course, he wouldn't be allowed to teach it anymore. When he asked what he needed to do to become qualified, no one had any answers for him. HR said that it wasn't in their area of expertise so we should check with the Ohio Department of Education.He did that with no one knowing exactly what he needed. Bottom line is that NO ONE has been able to give us clear answers on what he needs to do or even if there is a way he could get a tech theatre certificate.
My question...has this issue ever come up with anyone else? Any suggestions? When he graduated from college, he was told that he would be able to teach theatre classes...but clearly, that isn't the case. Without direction or a clear set of guidelines, it appears that the tech class with be eliminated next year.
Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.
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Cynthia Macioce
Drama Instructor/Master Teacher
Visual/Performing Arts, Chair
Gahanna Lincoln High School
Gahanna, Ohio
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