The VA DOE Requires this:
8VAC20-22-570. Theatre arts preK-12.
A. Endorsement requirements. The candidate must have:
1. Graduated from an approved teacher preparation program in theatre arts;
or
2. Completed a major in theatre or 33 semester hours distributed among the
following areas:
a. Directing: 6 semester hours;
b. Technical theatre: 9 semester hours;
c. Cultural context and theatre history: 3 semester hours;59
d. Performance: 6 semester hours; and
e. Dramatic literature: 9 semester hours.
B. Add-on endorsement requirements in theatre arts preK-12. The candidate must have:
1. A baccalaureate degree and an endorsement in a teaching area; and
2. Completed 15 semester hours distributed in the following areas:
a. Directing: 3 semester hours;
b. Technical theatre: 3 semester hours;
c. Cultural context and theatre history: 3 semester hours; and
d. Performance: 6 semester hours
In my experience most teachers have the add on endorsement outlined under "B". The other interesting component is that although the DOE says they can simply have a theatre major to teach- schools are not accredited in VA without 100% licensed teachers. So if they hire someone with the license but that does have the degree- they require them to become certified which means almost no one falls into this category because it's too much work.
The offerings for Theatre Education programs at VA colleges are dwindling at best and my own alma mater doesn't offer the degree anymore. It's very disheartening as a large percentage of the peer teachers I interact with have certification in something like English or History with the add on endorsement.
Though many teach theatre in their schools under a contingency that they will get the add on endorsement in 5 years or less and some of them never do this and simply leave the position. They are typically replaced with someone in the same situation- a contingency. This means there are schools (like the one I teach at) that has not had a certified theatre teacher in over 30 years. The last three teachers were not certified; to be fair the first one taught here for almost 20 years because the DOE requirements weren't as rigid and allowed them to get by with certification in history.
I know most Theatre Education programs in VA give you an automatic certification in English as well and you end up minoring in English. This is because many schools in VA simply won't hire you unless you're also certified in a core subject area. This always baffled me because I'm also certified to teach Art and no one is asking the Art or Music teachers to also be certified in a core subject. It all comes back to what we've spoken about several times on various posts: the legitimacy of theatre as a content area that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Art or Music (both are eligible for National Board Certification and offer AP Class options).
I'd love to see theatre valued in the same way. To be fair- in some pockets throughout the US (some pockets as large as states) they do have that kind of esteem and respect. But that is not the norm.
Keep your head up, and at the end of the day know that we're here for students. They know you make a difference- and that's the best blessing in the world.
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Victoria Kesling Councill
Theatre Teacher
New Kent County Public Schools
New Kent VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-26-2015 13:13
From: Tom Fulton
Subject: PA Theater Education Certification?
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Tom Fulton
Director
Academy for the Performing Arts
Chagrin Falls OH
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Jared,
It's the same in Ohio. We have no education certification for Theatre in Ohio. The school wants us to have one. Impossible.
Tom
www.chagrinacademy.org
www.tomfulton.com
Original Message:
Sent: 01-23-2015 13:49
From: Jarad Benn
Subject: PA Theater Education Certification?
Did you know that there is no Education Certification available for Theatre in Pennsylvania? I've known for quite some time and am appalled by this.
Does anyone have any experience dealing with their respective state's Department of Education to try and add a certification availability?
The answers I've received from the Dept. of Ed so far have been 1. We've never found a need to offer a certification in theater. And, 2. Communications covers theater.
The first answer is just due to lack of awareness of the needs of arts education. The second is due to believing that somehow some peripheral knowledge of the art form is all that's required to teach it.
That's like saying the basketball coach is qualified to coach cricket on the basis that they both involve balls.
Anyone know how I can begin making some sort of noise about this? New Jersey offers a certification in theater. New York does, Delaware does. Not sure about Maryland.
And- if it's an issue of theatre being too specific- I'll just say this. There is a certification offered for Speech and Debate in Pennsylvania. But not theater.
Anyone want to talk about it?
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Jarad Benn
Theater Teacher, Center for Performing and Fine Arts
Pa Leadership Charter School
Langhorne PA
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