Question: As teachers who service students who are DHH, I am wondering if we have to worry that the DHH Teacher License is going to go away. I heard that the licenses are up for review. What does that mean for us and our students? How can we be involved in the discussions?
You ask many great questions, thank you! We'll answer each one.
You asked if the DHH Teacher Licenses are going away.
No, they are not going away. Both the Teachers of Special Education: Deaf or Hard of Hearing (8710.5200) and the Teachers of Special Education: Oral/Aural Deaf Education (8710.5250) licenses are written in state law.
You asked if the licenses are going up for review.
- The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) has asked stakeholders to look at the Tiered License System (Chapter 8710) developed in 2016. They want this group to be sure those who teach our children under the new system are qualified to teach.
- PELSB will set up a full review of qualifications for teachers to have either license later in 2020 or early 2021.
- Just an FYI, there is another group of stakeholders who are reviewing the ASL World Language license, which is the teaching credentials for those teaching ASL in a general education classroom (middle and high school).
Here are the stakeholders.
Deaf/Hard of Hearing Teacher License group
- Administrator - Bi-Bi Program (Metro Deaf School) - Susan Lane-Outlaw
- Administrator - Intermediate District - Ann Mayes and Jay Fehrman
- Administrator - State Academies - Terry Wilding
- Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens - John Fechter
- MDE D/HH Specialist - Mary Cashman-Bakken
- MDE Workforce Specialist - Rebecca Jackson
- MNCDHH Coordinator of Educational Advancement & Partnerships - Anna Paulson
- Parent Representative - Gloria Nathanson
- Regional Low Incidence Facilitator - Ingrid Aasan-Reed
- Rural Teacher D/HH - Diane Schiffler-Dobe
- Rural Teacher D/HH - Michele Isham
- Supervisor - Workforce & Low Incidence Disabilities Unit at MDE - Aaron Barnes
- University of Minnesota Teacher Prep Program - Debbie Golos
- Urban Teacher D/HH - Doobie Kurus
- Urban Teacher D/HH - Valerie Shirley
Aural - Oral Teacher License group
- Administrator - A-O Program - Jay Fehrman
- Administrator - Northern Voices - Erin Loavenbruck
- Early Hearing Detection & Intervention specialist - Kathy Anderson
- Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens - John Fechter
- MDE D/HH Specialist - Mary Cashman-Bakken
- MDE Workforce Specialist - Rebecca Jackson
- MNCDHH Coordinator of Educational Advancement & Partnerships - Anna Paulson
- Parent Representative - Laura Godfrey
- Rural Teacher D/HH - Allan David
- Rural Teacher D/HH - Michele Isham
- Supervisor - Workforce & Low Incidence Disabilities Unit at MDE - Aaron Barnes
- University of Minnesota Teacher Prep Program - Debbie Golos
- Urban Teacher D/HH - Laurie White
- Minnesota Administrators for Special Education - Erin Toninato
- Director of Student Support Services (Alexandria Public Schools) - Michelle Kaliher
ASL World Language Teacher License group
- ASL Teachers - David Nathanson, Sherri Rademacher, and Mark Zangara
- ASLTA - MN Loon Chapter Representative - Damon Johnson
- Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens - Rebecca Thomas
- MDE D/HH Specialist - Mary Cashman-Bakken
- MNCDHH Coordinator of Educational Advancement & Partnerships - Anna Paulson
- MNSCU Representative - Sue Rose, Ph.D.
- St. Catherine University Deaf Studies Program - Justin Small, Ed.D.
You asked what that means for you and your students.
Right now, nothing is different for you and your students. It is hard for us to predict what the stakeholders will recommend and what the board will decide to do. However, all of the stakeholders have the students' best interests at heart and we are confident that they will make recommendations that will positively impact students and their teachers.
You also wanted to know how you can be involved in the discussions.
- We will need perspectives like yours to make comments in the future when PELSB is collecting public comments. MNCDHH will send out an email when public comments are open.
- You can sign up to receive notices by the board on the PELSB website.
- Remember that we have stakeholders representing teachers and students who are reviewing the Tiered Licensing System.
If you have more questions, please contact Anna Paulson at anna.paulson@state.mn.us.
