Section 60. Designations on licenses for career paths to teaching

A. Designations on licenses will reflect stages in the professional development of teachers and promote continuing growth and career paths as educators. Criteria and implementation of procedures will be set forth by the Virginia Department of Education.

B. Teaching licenses may be issued with one of the following designations and the designation will be processed as an add-on endorsement. These designations will not apply to the Division Superintendent License , School Manager License, International License, or the Pupil Personnel Services License.

1. Career Teacher: This teacher designation will be issued on a renewable teaching license for individuals who have gained continuing contract status in Virginia.

2. Mentor Teacher: This voluntary teacher designation will be issued on a renewable teaching license for individuals who have achieved the career teacher designation, received a recommendation for the designation from an employing Virginia school division superintendent or designee or accredited nonpublic school head, served at least three years as a mentor teacher in Virginia, documented responsibilities as a mentor, and completed a local or state mentor teacher training program in accordance with the Board of Education requirements for mentor teachers.

3. Teacher as Leader: This voluntary teacher designation will be issued on a renewable teaching license for individuals who have achieved the career teacher designation; completed at least five years of successful, full-time teaching experience in a Virginia public school or accredited nonpublic school; received the recommendation from an employing Virginia school division superintendent or designee or accredited nonpublic school head; and completed one of the following:

a. National board certification or a nationally recognized certification program approved by the Board of Education and a recommendation from an employing Virginia school division superintendent or designee or accredited nonpublic school head and documentation in an approved Department of Education format verifying the individual's demonstrated skills and abilities as a school leader and direct contributions to school effectiveness and student achievement; or

b. A recommendation from an employing Virginia school division superintendent or designee or accredited nonpublic school head and documentation in an approved Department of Education format verifying the individual's demonstrated skills and abilities as a school leader and direct contributions to school effectiveness and student achievement.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 23, Issue 25, eff. September 21, 2007.

Statutory Authority

§ 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia.