The following topics were discussed during the Georgia Professional Standards Commission’s (GaPSC's) monthly meetings Dec. 8-9, 2021:
Ethics Division
Dr. Paul Shaw, director of the Ethics Division, announced his upcoming retirement. The Commission recommended a suspension of two years for an educator accused of throwing a basketball at a non-verbal student three times, hitting the student in the head once. A paraprofessional allegedly saw the incident, and part of the incident was allegedly captured on camera. The GaPSC will seek a suspension of 30 days for an educator accused of grooming a student. The educator allegedly went out of his way to have a female student removed from another teacher’s class and placed in his class.
Educator Preparation and Certification Committee
The Commission granted Developmental Approval for the Mathematics (6-12); [Master's degree] program at Albany State University. The Commission granted Developmental Approval for the following educator preparation programs at Thomas University:
Computer Science (P-12); [Baccalaureate degree]
Educational Leadership Tier I (P-12); [Certification-only; Master’s degree]
Educational Leadership Tier II (P-12); [Specialist degree]
The Commission also granted Continuing Approval for the University of North Georgia, and the following 19 educator preparation programs:
Art (P-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
Autism Education [Endorsement]
Biology (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
Chemistry (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
Curriculum and Instruction (P-12) [Master's degree]
Education Leadership - Tier I (P-12) [Certification-only]
Educational Leadership - Tier II (P-12) [Certification-only; Educational Specialist degree]
English (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only; Master’s of Arts in Teaching degree]
ESOL Endorsement
Gifted In-Field [Endorsement]
Health and Physical Education (P-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only; Master’s of Arts in Teaching degree]
History (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only; Master’s of Arts in Teaching degree]
Interrelated Special Education/ECE (P-5) [Baccalaureate degree]
Mathematics (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only; Master’s of Arts in Teaching degree]
Middle Grades (4-8) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only; Master’s of Arts in Teaching degree]
Music (P-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
Physics (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
Post-Baccalaureate Initial Teacher Certification (P-12, 4-8, 6-12) [Certification-only]
Reading Endorsement
The GaPSC granted Developmental Approval for the Reading Endorsement at Coastal Plains RESA. The Commission granted Developmental Approval for the ESOL Endorsement at Emmanuel College. The Commission granted Developmental Approval for the Gifted Endorsement at Emmanuel College.
January GaPSC Meetings The next meetings will be Jan. 12-13, 2022.