Commissioner Frank Edleblut, I want you to know that we agree with you. Yes, you read that correctly. NEA-New Hampshire agrees with you and Steve Appleby, administrator for credentialing at the Board of Education.
Recently there have been many stories in the news about the assistant superintendent of Concord not being credentialed for the position of assistant superintendent. Even though she has many other certifications, Appleby said in a recent interview with WMUR, “It’s a concern even for school officials who don’t work directly with students.”
We agree. It’s just not a good idea to have uncredentialed school officials – even if they don’t directly work with children. But it’s much worse to have people who work directly with children have no credentials, or even be on a path to be credentialed.
That’s why it so puzzling to see you advocate so strongly for non-credentialed instructors being able to grant graduation credits in your Learn Everywhere proposal. Your plan allows people without credentials of any kind to work directly with students.
Parents, employers and college entrance officials all believe credentials are important requisites for school officials, both inside and outside of the classroom.
So, the question is, what truly troubles your Department of Education? Having credentials or not having credentials?
MEGAN TUTTLE
Concord
(The writer is president of NEA-New Hampshire.)