SECTION 210:35-7-44. Staff qualifications

(a)   Each teacher assigned to teach in an accredited middle level school must hold an Elementary Certificate, or Elementary-Secondary, or Secondary Certificate with a credential in the area, Library Media Specialist (Librarian) or Speech-Language Pathology License/Certificate. Teachers of seventh or eighth grade mathematics who are certified after September 1, 1999, shall be required to have intermediate mathematics certification or advanced/secondary mathematics certification. Teachers of seventh or eighth grade mathematics who are certified prior to September 1, 1999, shall be required to have intermediate mathematics or advanced/secondary mathematics certification prior to September 1, 2003. Teachers holding an Elementary Certificate shall be eligible to teach only grades 7 and 8 in an accredited junior high school. Teachers teaching in the ninth grade must hold a secondary credential in the specific subject taught.

(b)   School counselors shall hold a valid Oklahoma School Counselor Certificate appropriate for the grade levels to which they are assigned.

(c)   The library media specialist (librarian) shall hold a valid Oklahoma Library Media Specialist (Librarian) Certificate.

(d)   The middle school principal or assistant principal shall hold a valid Oklahoma Elementary or Secondary Principal's Certificate. The junior high principal or assistant principal shall hold a valid Oklahoma Secondary Principal's Certificate. A teaching principal or assistant teaching principal shall have a Principal's Certificate appropriate to the grade level of the school; shall teach at the school site and organizational level where the administrative assignment occurs; and shall devote a portion of the day to administration and supervision.

(e)   All athletic coaches, being assigned coaching duties , shall have completed a course in the care and prevention of athletic injuries.

(f)   All coaches and athletic directors shall be employed by the school district and shall hold a valid teaching certificate. Their names shall appear on the class schedule.

[Source: Added at 8 Ok Reg 2159, eff 5-17-91 (emergency); Added at 9 Ok Reg 2371, eff 7-13-92; Amended at 15 Ok Reg 363, eff 10-13-97 (emergency); Amended at 15 Ok Reg 2306, eff 6-11-98; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 20, eff 9-17-01 (emergency); Amended at 19 Ok Reg 982, eff 5-13-02; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 1487, eff 6-11-07; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 727, eff 1-28-08 (emergency); Added at 25 Ok Reg 1618, eff 6-12-08]