Qualifications of Personnel

TCCB-ED Guidelines: Quality and Effectiveness

PARA.PROFESSIONALS / AIDES / CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS
(i.e., an individual who provides instructional support under the direct supervision of a qualified teacher.)
Minimum Requirements
1. High school diploma or the equivalent General Education Diploma (GED)
2. Preferred experience/training to perform the task assigned by the principal
Experience may include: day camps, youth groups, private schools, licensed day-care centers, or similar experience

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
Short Term: A substitute teacher who will have responsibility for a class for less than 50% of a grading period must have a minimum of a high school diploma/GED.
Permanent/Long Term: A substitute teacher who will have responsibility for a class for 50% or more of a grading period must have the same TCCB ED qualifications required for a teacher.

TEACHERS
Pre-Kindergarten Teachers Pk3-K5
1. Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or 
Associate degree with 12 hours in Early Childhood Education** from an accredited university or
equivalent in a foreign country or
2. Bachelor's degree and 12 credit hours in Early Childhood Education courses** from an
accredited university or equivalent in a foreign country or
a valid, appropriate state certificate.
3. Teachers of Religion must fulfill the 150-hour Minimum Requirements for Teachers of
Religion/Theology

Self-Contained Teachers - Kindergarten through 8th grade
1. Bachelor's degree and
2. 12 credit hours in education courses* or a valid, appropriate state certificate
3. Teachers of Religion/Theology must fulfill the TCCB ED 150-hour Minimum Requirements

Teachers in Departmental Grades 6th - 8th (excluding Religion) 
- if teaching only one content area
1. Bachelor's degree in content area taught
or bachelor's degree with 18 credit hours in content area taught
or bachelor's degree with the completion of appropriate state certification exam
2. 12 credit hours in education courses* or a valid appropriate state certificate (copy of certificate must be on file)

- if teaching more than one content area
1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited university with 18 credit hours in at least one content
area taught and 9 credit hours in each additional content area taught or
Bachelor's degree from an accredited university with the completion of state appropriate
certification exam for primary content area taught and 9 credit hours in each additional
content area taught
2. 12 credit hours in education courses* or a valid appropriate state certificate ( copy of state certificate must be on file).

Teachers in Departmental Grades 9th -12th (excluding Religion / Theology)
1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in content area taught and
2. 12 credit hours in education courses* or a valid, appropriate state certificate (verification of
certificate must be on file)
3. 12 credit hours in each additional content area taught or successful completion of valid,
appropriate state certification exam (verification of certificate must be on file) 

or
 
1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited university and 12 credit hours in education courses* or a valid, appropriate state certificate (verification of certificate must be on file)
2. 24 credit hours in the primary content taught or the completion of valid, appropriate state
certificate (verification of certificate must be on file)
3. 12 credit hours in each additional content area taught or a valid, appropriate state certificate
(certificate must be on file)

TEACHER OF RELIGION / THEOLOGY (Full Time and Part Time)
Elementary-Grades PK-8th (Effective 2014-2015)
1. A religion teacher must be a practicing Catholic in good standing.
2. A religion teacher for grades K-8th must have a bachelor's degree (including 12 credit hours
in education* or a valid, state certificate) with either:

• 12 semester credit hours (for which a minimum of 12 ½ clock hours constitutes one semester credit hour) in theology from an accredited Catholic college or university or
• 150 clock hours, as required by TCCB ED and any additional hours required by the (arch)diocese, of undergraduate-level coursework, appropriately distributed among courses in 
  • Catholic doctrine;
  • Sacred Scripture;
  • morality/social justice, and;
  • sacraments/liturgy.

3. A religion teacher for grades PK3 or PK4 must have an associate degree in early childhood
education (or its equivalent), a Montessori Certificate, or a valid, appropriate state certificate with either of the above two bulleted options.

High School-Grades 9th -12th (Effective 20l4-2015)
l.  A religion teacher must be a practicing Catholic in good standing.
2. A religion teacher for grades 9th -12th must have a bachelor's degree including 12 credit
hours in education* and a major in theology from an accredited Catholic college or
university.
3. A teacher who teaches religion in addition to their primary assignment must meet the
minimum requirements for the primary content area and have at least l2 credit hours in
theology from an accredited Catholic college or university.

PRINCIPAL / HEAD OF SCHOOL
The principal/head of school must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with a commitment to ongoing formation in catechetical and spiritual leadership development as defined by and monitored by the local ordinary and superintendent.
1. Master's degree and
2. 18 credit hours in educational administration and supervision courses*** or a valid state certificate administrator certificate;
3. Job description must be on file defining roles and responsibilities.

If after exhaustive search for a qualified principal, efforts prove unsuccessful; a person may be hired who has a deficiency of no more than six (6) graduate hours to complete the principal requirements. The person must complete a TCCB ED Deficiency Removal Plan, whereby, they will meet requirements before the beginning of the next school year. The pastor/board president must obtain written approval from the superintendent for the TCCB ED Deficiency Removal Plan prior to hiring.

---   ---   ---   ---

   *  Education Courses must be appropriate to the age of students and content to be taught. Additional
hours may include (but not limited to):

• developmental or child psychology
• human growth and development
• learning theory
• curriculum (elementary/secondary)
• educational use of technology
• methods of instruction
• differentiation
• cultural competency
• special education

Notes:
1.)  Teachers of Religion/Theology must meet the TCCB ED 150-hour Minimum Requirements.
2.) Note: College personnel teaching dual credit courses in Catholic High Schools do not need to have 12 hours of education credits. They should, however, hold a degree with a major or credentials (expertise) in the area being taught. Must have superintendent's approval on file. The program offering the dual credit must be an accredited program/organization approved by the superintendent.

 **  Early Childhood Courses must be appropriate to the age of students and content to be taught.  Credit hours may include (but are not limited to):

• developmental or child psychology
• human growth and development
• learning theory
• curriculum (early childhood, elementary)
• educational use of technology
• classroom management
• cultural competency
• special education

After an exhaustive search, the superintendent may consider additional benchmarks.

*** Preferred Administration / Supervision Coursework includes curriculum, legal issues in non-public schools, finance, strategic planning, facility management, cultural competency, special education, supervision of personnel, and assessment.