Professional Certification
Handbook
A guide for candidates,
facilitators, and program directors
Professional Certification
Handbook
A guide for candidates,
facilitators, and program directors
Professional Education and Certification
Office of Superintendent of Public
Instruction
Dr. Arlene Hett, Director
Dr. Terry Bergeson
Superintendent of Public
Instruction
Dr. Catherine Davidson
Chief of Staff
Dr. Corrine McGuigan
Assistant Superintendent,
Research and Educator Development
August 2007
Office of Superintendent
of Public Instruction
Old Capitol Building
P.O. Box 47200
Olympia, WA 98504-7200
For more information about
the contents
of this document, please
contact:
Mary Jo Larsen, OSPI
E-mail: MaryJo.Larsen@k12.wa.us
Phone: 360.725.4969
To order more copies of
this document,
please call 1-888-59-LEARN
(I-888-595-3276)
or visit our Web site
at http://www.k12.wa.us/publications
Please refer to the document
number below for quicker service:
05-0023
This document is available
online at:
http://www.k12.wa.us/certification/ProfEd/profcertprograms.aspx
This material is available
in alternative format upon request.
Contact the Resource Center
at (888) 595-3276, TTY (360) 664-3631.
Professional Certificate Handbook
This handbook is intended to
be a guide and resource for teachers engaged in the process of Professional
Certification as well as their mentors, district coordinators, and college/university
program administrators and facilitators.
This 2007-2008 edition includes
revisions based on feedback from the field as well as clarifications
and further guidance.
OSPI is very grateful to the
many people in the field who contributed to this handbook. Specifically,
we thank Jim Meadows and the WEA for arranging a review session with
current candidates and Sharon Mowry at Whitworth for field-testing this
handbook with her Pre-Assessment Seminar in July 2005.
Over 50 teachers
at various points in the process reviewed drafts and shared feedback
and ideas
Dr. Nancy Cartwright,
Teacher Mentoring/Professional Development, Edmonds School District
Townley Slack, National
Board Certified Teacher, Professional Certificate Facilitator North
Kitsap School District
Erin LaVerdiere,
Staff Development, Sumner School District
Cindy Thorpe, TAP/Professional
Certificate Coordinator, Franklin Pierce School District
Allison Harris,
Instructional Services School Coach, Seattle Public Schools
Program Administrators
at the colleges/universities
Terese Emry, National
Board Certified Teacher, Coordinator of Washington National Board support
Entire Professional
Education and Certification Staff at OSPI
We welcome your feedback as
you use this handbook. Your feedback is very valuable to us as
we strive to have user friendly and helpful resources and documents.
Feedback or questions can be
sent to Mary Jo Larsen at MaryJo.Larsen@k12.wa.us
Table of Contents
This handbook is divided into
different sections. Each section has its own page numbering.
suggest you three-hole punch
the pages and put them in a binder with tabbed dividers. You can
then take out specific sections or resources as you focus on certain
areas.
General
Information and Process Overview
Standards and Criteria
1-1
Professional Certificate Sequence
1-2
College/University Programs
1-3
Professional
Certification Requirements
Program Overview
2-2
Standards and Criteria
2-3
Descriptions of Practice
2-4
Standard 1: Effective Teaching
2-4
Standard 2: Professional Development
2-10
Standard 3: Professional Contributions
2-11
Assessment Information
2-13
Portfolio Directions
2-14
Resource Document
2-18
Standard 1: Effective Teaching
2-19
Standard 2: Professional Development
2-40
Standard 3: Professional Contributions
2-48
Evidence Guidelines
2-52
Forms
and Documentation
Candidate Information Sheet
3-2
Professional Growth Record
3-3
Professional Growth Plan
3-4
Additional
Information and Resources
Renewing the Residency Certificate
4-2
Personal Capacity Worksheet
4-3
Completed ProCert-Next Steps
4-6
Glossary
4-12
Standards and Criteria“The
Big Three”
The following are the 3 standards
and 12 criteria for Professional Certification. You must demonstrate
competency in all 12 criteria. Your Portfolio will be directly
connected to these 12 criteria. The standards and criteria can
be found in WAC 181-78A-540.
1) The knowledge and skills
for effective teaching which ensure student learning by:
(a) Using instructional strategies
that make learning meaningful and show positive impact on student learning;
(b) Using a variety of assessment
strategies and data to monitor and improve instruction;
(c) Using appropriate classroom
management principles, processes and practices to foster a safe, positive,
student-focused learning environment;
(d) Designing and/or adapting
challenging curriculum that is based on the diverse needs of each student;
(e) Demonstrating cultural
sensitivity in teaching and in relationships with students, families,
and community members;
(f) Integrating technology
into instruction and assessment; and
(g) Informing, involving, and
collaborating with families and community members as partners in each
student’s educational process, including using information about student
achievement and performance.
2) A successful candidate
for the professional certificate shall demonstrate the knowledge and
skills for professional development by:
(a) Evaluating the effects
of his/her teaching through feedback and reflection;
(b) Using professional standards
and district criteria to assess professional performance, and plan and
implement appropriate growth activities; and
(c) Remaining current in subject
area(s), theories, practice, research and ethical practice.
3) A successful candidate
for the professional certificate shall demonstrate
professional contributions to the improvement of the school,
community, and the profession by:
(a) Advocating for curriculum,
instruction, and learning environments that meet the diverse needs of
each student; and
(b) Participating collaboratively
in school improvement activities and contributing to collegial decision-making.
Professional Certificate Sequence
This sequence outlines
the steps for a newly certified, beginning teacher.
Step
1
Complete First
Year of Teaching
Participation
in Teacher
Assistance Program
(if available through your district)
Step 2
Apply to Program (may apply after first year but
must apply before certificate expiration
date)
Eligibility Requirements
State:
Candidate must hold a valid
Washington Teaching Certificate; be contracted to teach in a K12 public
school, state board approved private school or other agency approved
to provide educational services. Must complete Provisional status
(typically 2 years in the same district) or have District support letter.
Universities:
Each
program application
is unique to that university. Common elements generally include
a copy of the teaching certificate, transcripts and letters of recommendation.
Programs combined with a Master’s degree usually have additional application
requirements
The
following components are similar in all the programs. Specific
seminar content, credit designations, timelines, and Core structure
vary from program to program.
Step 3
Pre-Assessment Seminar
This seminar serves as an introduction
to reflective practice and the Professional Certificate requirements. The candidate reflects on
all 12 criteria to identify areas in which she/he has strengths and
the areas in which she/he needs to increase capacity. Candidates
develop their Professional
Growth Plan
with guidance from the Professional Growth Team. Some universities
allow candidates to take the Pre-Assessment Seminar without being fully
admitted to the program.
Step 4
Core
Time between Pre-Assessment
and Culminating Seminars when the candidate works to fulfill their Professional
Growth Plan and prepare to demonstrate competence in all areas. The Core should include learning
opportunities that will facilitate the acquisition of additional skills
and knowledge as outlined in the PGP. This can be college/university
credit, clock hours, or a combination of both. Some universities
will count Core credits towards completion of a Masters Degree.
Step 5
Culminating Seminar
Final development of portfolio
and demonstration of the 3
standards and 12 criteria.
The portfolio will be assessed by the college/university during this
seminar.
Step 6
Receive the Professional
Certificate
Once issued, the Professional
Certificate must be renewed
with the equivalent of 150
clock hours in a five-year period.
College/University Programs Contact List
The following is a list of
approved ProCert programs in the state. Many offer ProCert integrated
with a Master’s Degree and many offer certification only options.
The following list includes each of the programs as well as the Program
Administrator at each institution.
Central
Washington University
Andrea Sledge
Andrea.sledge@cwu.edu
509-963-2661
Seattle University
Margie Kates
katesm@seattleu.edu
206-296-6173
City University
Chris Katayama
ckatayama@cityu.edu 1-800-426-5596
ext 5444
University of
Washington-Bothell
Pamela Joseph
pjoseph@uwb.edu
Eastern Washington
University
Mariann Donley
mariann.donley@mail.ewu.edu 509-235-5388
University of
Washington-Tacoma
Don Lapinski
lapinski@u.washington.edu
253-692-4430
The Evergreen State
College
Loren Petty
pettyl@evergreen.edu
360-867-6573
WSU-Pullman
Debra Pastore
dpastore@wsu.edu
509-335-7475
Gonzaga University
Sharon Straub
straub@gonzaga.edu
509-323-3662
WSU-Spokane
Lenore Schmidt
schmidtl@wsu.edu
509-358-7546
Heritage University
Robin Glaspey
glaspey_r@heritage.edu
509-865-8656
WSU-Tri-Cities
Marisol Rodriguez-Price
marisol@tricity.wsu.edu
509-372-7175
Northwest
University
Pam Skolrud
425-889-7789
WSU-Vancouver
Barbara Clausen
bjclausen@comcast.net
206-669-2014
Pacific Lutheran
University
Lynne Tiedeman
253-535-8790
profdev@plu.edu
253-535-8378
Western Washington
Sheila Fox
Sheila.fox@wwu.edu
360-650-3332
Susan Bailey
360-650-3347
St Martin’s
Steve Siera
ssiera@stmartin.edu
360-438-4589
Whitworth
Sharon Mowry
smowry@whitworth.edu
Seattle Pacific
University
profcert@spu.edu
800/589-4038 choice 1
or 206-281-2294
1-
Dr. Terry Bergeson
State Superintendent of
Public Instruction
August 2007