There are many different certifications and degrees that a teacher can earn. Like a doctor, a teacher can specialize in a particular area of study. In addition to receiving a degree in a certain subject, teachers can also earn degrees in areas such as special education, speech, counseling, and early childhood.
The most common area of certification for teachers is in general elementary education. These teachers may teach all subjects to students sixth grade and below. Teachers who teach in middle or high school must choose a subject in which to specialize.
There often comes a time in school systems where there is a shortage of teachers with a particular certification. In some cases, the state board of education will allow a teacher to teach on a waiver.
When teaching on a waiver, a teacher must begin to take courses in the field of which he or she is teaching. There is usually a particular time period in which the degree must be earned if the teacher wishes to remain in the position.
Most teachers on waivers are either elementary certified teachers teaching special education, music, physical education, library, etc or a middle school or high school teacher teaching a subject out of his or her certification.
Many teachers only take the job until one in their certification becomes available. Therefore, they never complete the degree in which they started on the wavier.
In my county, there are often shortages of special education teachers and math teachers. Some of the high schools have had teachers teaching math on a wavier. My school currently has a teacher teaching special education on a wavier.
Teachers teaching on a wavier were only hired for the job because no other applicants held a degree in the specified field. Without placing a teacher with a wavier in the position, there would be no other option.
In many cases having a teacher on a wavier fill a position can be a great disgrace to the students. The teacher is not an expert in the area he or she is teaching and is often always looking for a way out.
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