Gigi Azam

Posted on 11/25/09

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I have been a substitute teacher since Aug 2006 and have
recently enrolled with an Alternate certification program
(ACP), to become certified to teach science at the
secondary level. For the 2008/09 and thus far into the
2009/10 school years, I have been a permanent Sub at a high
school, subbing for the teachers almost 5 days a week. As
part of my field experience for the certification, I have
opted the route of doing a clinical teaching, ( as i could
not secure a teacher of record position), and which is
stipulated to be done over a period of 12 weeks, fulltime
and without pay. Since i have substantial classroom
experience, am I justified in asking my ACP to
reduce/revise the clinical teaching requirements for me to
a 10 week, 2days/week schedule as many state universities
offering educator training programs do?

The Texas Administrative code (Chapter 228) suggests ACPs
to follow such a rigorous clinical teaching program for
candidates without any prior classroom exposure. However,
it also states ( rules #228.1 and 228.35), that ACPs should
be flexible in accomodating the unique needs and
characteristics of its candidates and must allow them to
use prior training and experiences toward completing their
certification.

I am looking for some answers /insight to this problem that
my ACP instructor refuses to address. I look forward to
hearing any suggestions/comments that you may have in this
regard.

Thanks.

Gigi

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