FILE: GBBA
QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES
TEACHERS
The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board shall require that each teacher or substitute teacher hold not less than a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university to be eligible for employment, whenever possible. Each teacher, including administrative personnel, shall be required to hold a current and valid teacher's certificate issued by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) or demonstrate proficiency in meeting all requirements necessary to obtain such a certificate.
Certification in Progress
In the absence of an available, certified teacher, principals may recommend an applicant who is actively making progress toward earning permanent teacher licensure. The applicant shall be eligible for employment a maximum of three (3) years while working towards certification.
To be eligible for initial hire, the applicant must meet the requirements and obtain/maintain an initial Louisiana Temporary Authority to Teach (TAT), as set forth in Bulletin 746, Louisiana Standards for State Certification of School Personnel, §323. TATs are valid for one (1) year initially and may be renewed twice thereafter provided the applicant has met the specified requirements. The applicant shall be considered a temporary employee and shall follow the same classification as late-hire employees with employment ending within seven (7) days upon the employment of a certified teacher or the final day of the school year. Uncertified employees shall not be guaranteed teaching positions until earning permanent licensure. Personnel who do not meet these requirements may be employed as temporary teachers and shall not be entitled to employee benefits.
If the principal determines that the applicant has met the standards of effectiveness, adhered to the corresponding job description, and evaluations and documentation supports satisfactory performance, the teacher may be recommended for a second (2nd) year of employment, but must meet the specified requirements and renew/maintain a TAT or a Practitioner License. By the end of year two, the applicant must be enrolled in an alternative certification program to continue employment, with proper documentation being submitted for verification.
If the principal determines that the applicant has demonstrated satisfactory performance of duties, adhering to the corresponding job description, and evaluations and documentation supports such determination, the teacher may be recommended for a third (3rd) and final year of employment as a teacher. The teacher must be enrolled in an alternative certification program, eligible for TAT3, and earn the practitioner license by the end of the first semester of the third (3rd) year of employment. The teacher shall only be eligible for continued employment if they have met the specified requirements and earned permanent licensure.
JOB DESCRIPTION/DUTIES
A written job description shall exist for every employment position with the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, depicting the minimum qualifications and the responsibilities necessary for the position.
As part of their work assignment, teachers, as well as other employees, shall perform duties as necessary to reasonably maintain the safety and welfare of students. They shall at all times perform these duties in a reasonably prudent manner. There shall be intensive supervision of all students in areas of high risk, such as indoor or outdoor physical education classes, weight rooms, locker/dressing rooms, chemistry and biology labs, home economics classes, as well as other high risk technical education classes, and extracurricular activities including such things as practices, tutoring, try-outs, field trips, and athletic events.
Teachers may also be required to attend or conduct such other functions or activities of their respective school as deemed appropriate by the principal within the guidelines of their job description and their job responsibilities.
OTHER PERSONNEL
The Superintendent shall ensure that other school employees, both current and prospective, have proper certification, as applicable, and are qualified for the position to which employed.
New policy: July 18, 2019
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:413, 17:414, 17:441, 17:3884, 17:3904
Harrah Independent School District v. Martin, 99 S. Ct. 1062 (1979)
Louisiana Standards for State Certification of School Personnel, Bulletin 746, Louisiana Department of Education
Board minutes, 7-18-19
St. John the Baptist Parish School Board