Tyler, TX— Rep. Schaefer worked to pass legislation that gives flexibility and local control to school districts to hire subject matter experts to teach career and technology courses. “For too long public schools have been prevented from hiring subject-matter experts like engineers, nurses, plumbers, and welders to teach vocational courses because these professionals had not returned to college to pursue an education degree and a teaching certificate. Yet these experts have real world experience, understand practical application, and possess the technical skillset to teach students their craft. Our schools have struggled to find good teachers for vocational programs because often the best available people faced a mountain of red tape. Finally, the red tape has been cut,” Rep. Schaefer said.
Under the new law that will be effective September 1, local school districts across Texas will be able to hire teachers for career and technology education (vocational) courses who may not possess a traditional teaching certificate. With the help from East Texas school superintendents and business owners, the enabling language from a bill Rep. Schaefer authored was included in a larger education bill (House Bill 2205 by Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Lake Dallas) that was signed by Governor Abbott. Speaking about the upcoming changes, Rep. Schaefer said: “Now the hiring decision is local, not controlled by bureaucrats in Austin. It makes no sense to require someone like an electrician, with a professional license and lots of experience, to return to college for an education degree in order to teach what they already know. We trust our local school officials with millions in taxpayer dollars. We should trust them to hire good people as well.” Rep. Schaefer also believes the new law will help schools that want to expand their existing career and technology programs.
Rep. Schaefer worked with local school districts, including Dr. Marty Crawford of Tyler ISD and Dr. Donnie Cook of Chapel Hill ISD, to find workable solutions and to spread the word about the need for reform in this area. Chapel Hill ISD highlights the problem that exists for vocational courses: after operating a successful automotive mechanic program in Chapel Hill for many years, the program was forced to close its doors to students when the school district was unable to find a certified teacher qualified to teach auto mechanics at the school.
Other East Texan superintendents and business leaders traveled to Austin this spring to testify before a House Public Education Subcommittee to speak in support of this legislation. With the help of Superintendent Trish Elliot of Grand Saline ISD and local business leader, Ed Thompson, this bill passed unanimously out of committee. Mr. Thompson, a successful Tyler-area builder/developer and former graduate of Chapel Hill ISD, testified about the need for this legislation before the committee: “I’m a product of what this bill represents. I took these vocational classes in high school. I was able to get a job with a steel company right out of high school because I could present to my employer a certificate as a beginning electrician. I advanced from there and was an electrician for over thirty years. I want today’s students to have the same opportunities.”
School district trustees will now be able to issue a local teaching permit to a person who will teach vocational courses within the district. The superintendent must certify to the board of trustees that the applicant has demonstrated subject matter expertise, has undergone a background check, and that the person is capable of proper classroom management. Thanks to this new legislation, Tyler ISD has already hired one teacher who will teach automotive mechanics this school year.
