ODE Announces Changes to the Resident Educator Program Requirements

Does this affect a teacher you know?

Lesley Chapman
French Teacher, Sycamore High School
OFLA Beginning Teacher Committee Chair

Are you or someone you know a Resident Educator? If so, you need to be aware of the changes that the Ohio Department of Education has made in the Resident Educator program for the 2015-2016 school year.

It was decided that Resident Educators had a lot on their plates between OTES and their RE program requirements, so some were merged. For instance, Resident Educators will now be able to use their OTES self assessment in place of a separate RESA self assessment. Additionally, Resident Educators will now use the same professional growth plan or improvement plan for OTES as for their Resident Educator Program. These changes will cut down on so much time for beginning teachers.

While last year REs had to keep various collaboration logs as well as journals regarding their teaching, teachers now have a choice of either completing a collaborative log OR the interactive journal. This will eliminate a lot of the extra paperwork that REs have had to juggle during those first years of teaching.

In past years, it was suggested that mentors observe their REs twice a year, but that has been reduced to one formal observation per year (including a pre and post observation conference). Another suggestion is that REs wait until year 3 to take their RESA assessment, which leads to their eventual licensure. Doing so in year 3 will give the Resident Educator time during year 4 to re-submit areas of their assessment that were not passed.

Again, it is important to note that today’s beginning teachers have a huge load on their shoulders. Let’s give them as much support as we can. For more information on these changes and more, check out the ODE RESA site: http://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Teaching/Resident-Educator-Program/Resident-Educator-Overview/2015-2016 RE ProgramOverview.pdf.aspx