Every teacher is entitled to a duty-free lunch and planning and preparation time. Except for a few minor changes made in the 1995 rewrite of the Texas Education Code, the statutes have essentially remained the same.
Duty-free lunch – Texas Education Code, Sec. 21.405 By law, each classroom teacher and full-time librarian gets at least a 30-minute lunch period “free from all duties and responsibilities connected with the instruction and supervision of students.” According to a Texas Attorney General opinion, the term “duty” would include a directive that teachers remain on campus during lunch, because it would relate to student instruction or supervision. Districts cannot require teachers to stay on campus during their 30-minute lunch even if the campus is “closed” for students.
The law provides exceptions—personnel shortages, extreme economic conditions or unavoidable/unforeseen circumstances—which give districts the right to require teachers to supervise lunches, but not more than one time per week.
The rules adopted by the commissioner of education set the bar very high before a district can assign a teacher to lunch duty. Scheduling problems do not create unforeseen circumstances. They exist when an epidemic, illness, or natural or man-made disaster leaves no one available to do the duty. An extreme economic condition exists when hiring a person to supervise lunch would cause the district to raise taxes to the extent that the district might face a tax roll-back election. A personnel shortage exists only after all available nonteaching personnel—superintendent and business manager included—have been assigned to the duty and the district has diligently recruited community volunteers to help.
Planning and preparation time – Texas Education Code, Sec. 21.404 The law entitles every teacher to planning and preparation time, during which the district can require the teacher to engage in no activity other than parent-teacher conferences, evaluating student work, and planning. Teachers must have at least 450 minutes of planning time every two weeks in increments of not less than 45 minutes within the instructional day.
Examples:
A teacher could have five 90-minute conference periods within a two-week period, instead of a 45-minute conference period each day. A district can provide 50- minute blocks of planning time daily, and exceed the minimum requirement, but it could not provide 50 minutes one day and 40 minutes the next.
A district cannot schedule a 7:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m. instructional day, and then give teachers 3:15 p.m.-4:00 p.m. to plan after the students leave.
Conference period cases often involve requirements for group planning or staff development during planning periods. According to the commissioner of education, if a district gives teachers no more than the statutory minimum planning time, the district cannot ask teachers to engage in group-planning during one of those planning periods.
Example:
A district that schedules 50-minute planning periods every day could ask teachers to plan as a group one day every two weeks, but the district could not take one planning period for group planning and another for staff development.
In Rhode Island I believe that duties, prep time, lunch, etc are covered by the individual school district contracts with the local union. I do not know of a district here where the teachers are not members of either the AFT or the NEA.
The United States Institute of Peace announces the National Peace Essay Contest for students in grades 9-12. For the 2006-07 contest, student's essay must examine the issue of youth and violent conflicts. First-place winners from each state receive $1,000 college scholarships and compete for national awards of $2,500 to $10,000. National award amounts include state awards. First-place state winners also are invited to attend an expenses-paid awards program in Washington, D.C., in June. To obtain guidelines for entering the contest, e-mail [email removed]].
I run a private tutoring service and am looking for a Spanish II tutor for an 11th grade student in Lincoln, RI. My student is repeating Spanish II and was weak in Spanish I. I am trying to help him pass.
Robert Posner Club Z! In-Home Tutoring [email removed]
I graduated with a BS in mathematics, with minors in chemistry, economics, and theology. I have been private tutoring for 5 years as well. I also have been a head swim coach for two years, and assitant volleyball, softball and track coaches as well. Currently I am in graduate school at for environmental and natural resource economics, but I have decided a PhD is not for me. Is there anyway that I can get hired without having a state license and then get my license after I begin to teach? I would really like to coach somewhere along with teachinig too if possible. Does anyone have any suggestions on what is the best way for me to find a job. I would be willing to teach public/ private, city/rural, and basically any of the following fields: math, science, economics or religion. Thank you for any help or guidance you can give me!
Thank you all so much for your help. I just moved to RI (from Ohio) to attend graduate school, so I am not partial in any way to this area. I will look into Mass, as well as Houston. Any specific school districts or programs you guys could tell me about would be great. I know this all probably seems very rushed on my part, but to make a long story short; I wanted to be a professor, but I've realized that grad school and research aren't for me. I really love teaching and being with students everyday. Thank you again for any help you can give me!
In RI check the big city (Providence, Pawtucket, Warwick, Woonsocket) districts. You'll need to contact the central office of each district individually.
Call the placement office at Rhode Island College and find out if there are any job fairs that they are aware of.
The International Student Film Festival is accepting submissions for the 2007 competition. Deadline for entries is May 31, 2007. You can be any age to participate but must be a student when the film/video was produced.
Visit [link removed]
Good luck to all student filmmakers and film instructors of course! This is a great way to put your school on the map.
Chrissy Strassburg Festival Coordinator - Santa Barbara 5296 El Carro Lane Carpinteria, Ca. 93013 USA (805) 566-0198 (805) 566-9171 [email removed]]
I am considering a move to RI and am just finishing my CT certification in ESOL. I have heard the RI governor bring up the need for increased ESOL services. Has this actually translated into jobs? What is the ESOL job market like?
Your certification in CT doesn't do a whole lot for you in RI unless you are certified Elementary Education or Secondary English as well. RI has a ESL Specialist certification K-12 which won't get you hired in a title one school. The following districts want the double: Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, West Warwick , and I think Cranston as well these days. These are the districts with most ESL students. Many elementary teachers are "endorsed" ESL in these districts, so they don't need a specialist. I had the same problem when I moved here, having a TESOL certification in New York don't mean diddly here.
On 4/08/07, Grad student wrote: > I am considering a move to RI and am just finishing my CT > certification in ESOL. I have heard the RI governor bring > up the need for increased ESOL services. Has this > actually translated into jobs? What is the ESOL job > market like?
Hello! My husbands job will be moving us to Rhode Island this summer. I have 5 years of experience teaching upper elementary and will be searching for a job. I know that this will be tough in Rhode Island, and was just curious if there is anything special rhode island schools are looking for? Anything I should emphasize on my cover letters or resume? I've already started the certification process, so I don't have to worry about that. I'd appreciate any suggestions anyone has! Thanks :-)
Thanks for the info- I will be sure to emphasize my ability to teach motivating, engaging lessons that also prepare students for assessments!
On 4/22/07, working here wrote: > You will have steep competition here. There are so many > colleges pumping out elementary education grads and a > declining population. That being said, you may also want to > apply for certification in Mass or CT depending on what part > of the state you move to. You may have luck in the urban > districts like Providence. > > Also, keep in mind that until you are tenured, you will be > layed off every year and have to grovel to get your job back > at the annual "job fair". > > Right now in RI, the emphasis is on the NECAP exam which tests > English, Math and Writing, with Science being added soon. > Teach to the test and you will do fine. >
I am a fifth grade teacher. It's a test heavy year: reading, Writing, math and science. Special education, math, science , and esl are good specialties to have here. Alsoa middle grades endoresment( graders 5-8 is helpful.
n 4/22/07, kim wrote: > Thanks for the info- I will be sure to emphasize my ability to > teach motivating, engaging lessons that also prepare students > for assessments! > > > On 4/22/07, working here wrote: >> You will have steep competition here. There are so many >> colleges pumping out elementary education grads and a >> declining population. That being said, you may also want to >> apply for certification in Mass or CT depending on what part >> of the state you move to. You may have luck in the urban >> districts like Providence. >> >> Also, keep in mind that until you are tenured, you will be >> layed off every year and have to grovel to get your job back >> at the annual "job fair". >> >> Right now in RI, the emphasis is on the NECAP exam which > tests >> English, Math and Writing, with Science being added soon. >> Teach to the test and you will do fine. >>
I live in Providence and have NY certification for science. Will I be able to find a job teaching science in RI or MA? Which is better? What are the requirements for certification?
On 5/02/07, Rael wrote: > I live in Providence and have NY certification for science. > Will I be able to find a job teaching science in RI or MA? > Which is better? What are the requirements for certification? > > Thanks
This link may be able to answer some of your questions but for complete information you need to contact the RI Department of Education concerning your certification.
On 5/09/07, lin wrote: > Does anyone have the web site that list the pay steps for > each school district in RI? I had it but can't find it! > Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On 5/11/07, riteacher wrote: > On 5/09/07, lin wrote: >> Does anyone have the web site that list the pay steps for >> each school district in RI? I had it but can't find it! >> Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > try > > [link removed]
I want to be an art teacher but i dont know where to begin I have my assicicates in nursing but i aspire to teach. I am going to talk to an advisor. i was wondering if anybody else had reccomondations
What if someone has a BFA, do you know what the next steps would be for becoming an art teacher? I thought colleges required an MFA to be a college professor, but what about anything K-12? Thanks!!!
On 5/12/07, riteacher wrote: > On 5/11/07, M Mercer wrote: >> I want to be an art teacher but i dont know where to >> begin I have my assicicates in nursing but i aspire to >> teach. I am going to talk to an advisor. i was wondering >> if anybody else had reccomondations > > Since this is the RI board I am going to assume you are in > Rhode Island. The state colleges (RIC and URI) both have > teacher programs. You can also take courses at CCRI that you > can transfer. > > I'd start with an advisor at the school at which you will be > getting your four year degree. They can advise you which > courses you can transfer from your associates, and which > courses you could take at CCRI for a lesser cost. > > Since you already have a nursing degree have you ever > thought of becoming a nurse/teacher?
On 5/21/07, Artsyfrog wrote: > What if someone has a BFA, do you know what the next steps would > be for becoming an art teacher? I thought colleges required an > MFA to be a college professor, but what about anything K-12? > Thanks!!!
The Rhode Island Department of Education certification webpage should be able to answer your questions for K-12. There is a phone number to call for additional information
In Rhode Island I believe that duties, prep time, lunch, etc
are covered by the individual school district contracts with
the local union. I do not know of a district here where the
teachers are not members of either the AFT or the NEA.