To become certified as a teacher there are a series of steps, or expectations, that you [the candidate] must successfully complete. Once those expectations are successfully met at Southern Polytechnic, you will be recommended to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for teacher certification. The certificate for teaching may be issued within six weeks of successful completion of these expectations, but you can be in the process of securing a teaching position well before receiving the certificate.
Obtaining teacher certification requires successful completion of the following, in order:
Throughout the course work you must maintain a GPS of 2.50. Academic advisors will work with you throughout the program, mentoring you to a successful career in teaching. You will be counseled about both strengths and weaknesses, so that you will understand and achieve your potential.
Knowledge, Skills, and Disposition
During every course with a field experience, you are observed and assessed on your Knowledge, Skills, and Disposition—the foundations of what makes a successful teacher. The assessments are cumulative, evaluating professional growth over the duration of the program. The Knowledge, Skills, and Dispositions of a successful SPSUTeach professional reflect the mission and vision of the University and of the Teacher Education Program. You will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Teacher as role model, means that the candidate:
Teacher as scholar, means that the candidate:
Teacher as global citizen, means that the candidate:
Teacher as professional, means that the candidate:
Teacher as leader, means that the candidate:
Field Experience Courses
These courses will introduce you to the profession of teaching and guide you through precise teaching experiences. You are required to successfully complete all course requirements and teaching opportunities, including the accompanying paperwork and digital logs, with successful Knowledge, Skills, and Dispositions evaluations.
Education Courses
These courses provide you with the professional knowledge and skills about learning and teaching, about the disciplines of science and mathematics and their implications for learning, and about the current research on effective teaching. You are required to successfully complete all course requirements, including accompanying paperwork and digital logs, with successful Knowledge, Skills, and Dispositions evaluations.
Passing GACE (Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators)
Successful candidates for teacher certification are required to show knowledge competence in two areas. They are as follows:
Review procedures of Teacher Candidates for Recommendation for Certification
Preadmission:
Before you begin any work in the schools, you must pass a criminal background check. Throughout Step 1 and 2 (or the Step 1/2 combo) you will be assessed on your lesson plans, how you deliver them, your Knowledge, Skills, and Disposition, and general performance in the course. Failure to complete your teaching experiences will result in a maximum grade of C, requiring you to retake the course if you wish to continue to seek certification.
You must show that you have mastered basic skills (including writing), by either passing the Basic Skills GACE test, or proving exemption. Knowing and Learning requires at least a C grade and faculty approval to continue.
Admission to Teacher Education Program
You must successfully pass the Step courses, Knowing and Learning, with faculty recommendations, and have completed at least 45 hours of course work at SPSU, with a minimum 2.5 GPA, to be considered as a candidate for teacher certification.
After admission into Teacher Education, you are reviewed every term to determine your progress towards teacher certification. Field experience courses will evaluate your teaching and classroom deportment. In all education courses listed below, you will be evaluated for academic success and on your Knowledge, Skills, and Disposition. Maintaining a 2.5 GPA and a clean criminal background is prerequisite to staying in the Teacher Education Program. The chart below is maintained in your Teacher Education folder.
Admission to Apprentice Teaching
Once you have successfully completed the courses listed below, with faculty recommendations from each course, and have maintained a clean criminal record, a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and have completed the content area GACE, completing almost all your course requirements, you will be evaluated for admissions into Apprentice Teaching.
Throughout your SPSUTeach program experience you will be evaluated on all of the columns below, before you are recommended to the State of Georgia, Professional Standards Commission for certification.
Knowledge, Skills, & Dispositions rubric
Applying for Admission to the SPSUTeach program
Recommendation Forms:
Application for Admission to Teacher Education
Instructor's Recommendation Form
Field Experience
GACE Basic Skills Assessments
GACE Content Assessments