Proposed bill concerns Sheridan County school superintendents

SHERIDAN — A new bill that would reduce the hiring standards for teachers is up for debate in the Wyoming Legislature this year, although local superintendents have expressed strong reservations about the bill because they feel it “devalues” the profession of teaching.

House Bill 100 — K-12 Uncertified Personnel — would allow school districts and charter schools to adopt policies to employ teachers who don’t hold a certificate or permit used by the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board.

It would also require school districts and charter schools to obtain background information on applicants for employment who do not hold a certificate or permit issued by PTSB.

HB 100 was received for introduction to the House Jan. 2, but no committee meetings or floor sessions are currently scheduled.

Co-sponsor of HB 100 Rep.Tom Kelly, R-Sheridan, said he believes the bill is a great way to expand the pool of qualified people who can work in schools, but he also understands some of the criticism revolving around it and recognizes how some people feel the bill devalues the profession of education.

“That’s what it says on the surface, but many people miss the part of the bill that says now the school districts, for local school boards who are closer to the parents and the taxpayers, they have the final say on who gets hired and when they need to make exceptions for qualified people who are technically unqualified, but in all reality and practicality highly qualified, they can make those exceptions as they see necessary and that’s the importance of this bill,” Kelly said.

Kelly said the bill could provide more opportunities for instructors in career and technical education classes, such as an individual with years of experience in welding or plumbing.

“Career and technical education is being invested heavily right now, and we would like to have both the resources and personnel to take care of it,” he said. “I trust local districts to have the wisdom to hire the best people. Nobody is going to be throwing some high school dropout in —  who couldn’t get hired at Taco Bell —  to go ahead and teach a class.”

Kelly mentioned how he has heard from many voters and school teachers who have spoken out. Those people typically believe it is disrespectful to the teaching profession to claim anyone can teach.

“That’s the point I am trying to get; this is not the intention at all. This is making this a local flexibility,” he said. “The loudest group I’ve heard from have been teachers, and I could tell them that I have been a teacher, and I have the utmost respect for people who go into this, knowing they’re not going to get rich and knowing how difficult it is.”

Kelly wanted to make it clear that districts can simply adopt the state certification system.

“We’re not abolishing the state certification system. What we’re saying is it’s no longer required by the state, so a district can still require that same process if they wish and just keep things as is,” Kelly said. “This is again, flexibility, and we’re leaving it to the local districts to decide what they believe is necessary, instead of everyone in Cheyenne telling them what is necessary.”

Sheridan County School District 2 Superintendent Scott Stults’ initial response was “It’s a bad bill.”

He believes it is essentially minimizing the requirements or expectations for a classroom teacher. Stults also referenced past examples of District 2 teachers who did not necessarily go the traditional route of obtaining a four year teaching degree but had a long career in their industry and worked with PTSB to obtain a Professional Industry Career permit.

To obtain the permit, prospective teachers provide a portfolio of work that demonstrates they have the experience and expertise to merit the emergency certification to become a teacher.

“Our teachers are trained for a reason, and they go through certification to be the most effective teacher they can be,” Stults said. “We have a great working relationship with PTSB to provide these opportunities for people in the field that want to become teachers.”

A PIC permit is valid for five years, and an individual who holds the permit is eligible to teach grade levels 6-12 only in the field of the occupational speciality for which the applicant has met all the requirements.

School District 3 Superintendent Chase Christensen said he is opposed to HB 100 and said he is quite certain the district should be no more willing to employ a non-certified educator in the classroom than other professionals would be to employ an unlicensed doctor, lawyer, barber, etc., in their respective professions.

“Certification and licensure exist to ensure a minimal standard. Reduction of the standard of education for our students is not a decision I am willing to take,” he said in an email to The Sheridan Press. “Our current educators are providing the highest education in our state’s history, as evidenced by NAEP (National Center for Education) scores and a continued increase in responsibility of the profession.”

Christensen said if the bill passes and the school district is able to implement a policy such as this, SCSD3’s training for newer uncertified teachers would be much the same.

“We would work with an employee to access the professional development necessary for them to implement our instructional framework with fidelity, while understanding the nuances of the profession from standards and grading to the many federal and state laws,” he said.

School District 1 Superintendent Jeff Jones said he believes the bill attempts to solve the shortage of educators in the country, but he does not feel it is the right approach.

“Unfortunately, this attempted solution may just continue the devaluing of our profession, something that has contributed to the shortage of educators in the first place,” Jones said in an email to The Sheridan Press. “I don’t believe this is the right approach. I would love to see a coordinated effort between lawmakers to celebrate our educators through legislation rather than prioritizing so many pieces of legislation that have an underlying message of, ‘We don’t trust you and/or we don’t value you enough to pay you what you deserve.’”

This story was published on January 24, 2025.