From: Kevin.Hollinger@fhsdschools.org <Kevin.Hollinger@fhsdschools.org> Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 1:46 PM To: Sarah Bussey <sarahdbussey@gmail.com> Cc: Dr Denise Robinson <yourtechvision@gmail.com>; AERNet <aernet@lists.aerbvi.org>; a1632287 <a1632287@mail.niu.edu> Subject: Re: [AERNet] TVI Attrition Though I do not have direct experience with my next comment, I know for a fact this is occurring based on my conversations with parents and professional across the country at recent conferences and email chats. The CVI endorsement and/or certificate have led to some situations with those folks holding the credential being consulted, considered for hire, or hired to be the TVI despite the fact that their expertise is not comprehensive based on that credential alone. I am all for the endorsement, certificate, and any other professional development to help me do my job better resulting in measurable outcomes for families and kids, but it should not replace the teacher license. In fact, I hope/plan to get the endorsement or extra training when openings are available and with that said, the requirement of a state teaching license/certificate requiring diligent coursework, supervised internships, and passing a comprehensive exam is critical and should be the only way to achieve a TVI position. In my opinion, we need our professional association, certification bodies, and consumer groups, especially parent advocacy groups, to unite in one voice and have an active presence. But, not all states require certification for O&M while I believe most do for TVI – wouldn’t it be nice to have a database? Kevin On Feb 12, 2019, at 7:29 AM, Sarah Bussey <sarahdbussey@gmail.com<mailto:sarahdbussey@gmail.com>> wrote: I see this all the time. My state is crawling with “TVIs” who were once amazing special education teachers! On the rare occasion these teachers are paired with a veteran TVI and truly get the guidance and support they need but it is a while before they actually “get it”. More often than not, these “TVIs” are all alone in a district with a room full of a equipment and materials with no idea where to start. Endorsement programs have been put into place to help provide some sort of foundation… But typically they are lacking. The biggest downfall is the inability to provide supervision over who mentors these teachers. In some cases mentors for new teachers have been teachers who completed their endorsement coursework six months prior. I will be honest when I say, some of the endorsed teachers are the type of teachers who always take it to the next level by completing research, attending conferences, and asking questions. The majority… Are floundering and they don’t even know it. Advice provided is like a foreign language. And then, you have a few who have what has been termed to me as a “Cush job” which translates to nothing being done appropriately for students because the districts do not know what it looks like to serve children who have visual impairments or how to supervise. Now, I say all this fully recognizing there are issues with teachers who have had appropriate training but have lost their excitement for the field and are simply moseying through until retirement. I have been asked to mentor teachers not associated with university programs, and have declined as the time I would have with them would not be nearly enough to fill the gaps. I just truly feel like we owe it to the field to be more diligent in how we prepare teachers. We also owe it to these special education teachers who may have a chance at being amazing teachers of the blind visually impaired to provide them with a strong foundation and knowledge for serving students. While I appreciate the individuals who are thinking outside the box of how to fill vacancies and provide a teacher.... emergency certificates and watered down training is not the answer. It’s The equivalent to putting a Mickey Mouse Band-Aid on a wound which requires staples. Short cuts in teacher preparation means our students never have a chance at rising to their full potential and yet again become a statistic for doctoral students. Just my thoughts… SB On Tuesday, February 12, 2019, Dr Denise Robinson <yourtechvision@gmail.com<mailto:yourtechvision@gmail.com>> wrote: Dumbing down standards opens districts to more due process and major lawsuits that they will lose. I also feel for the teacher the districts 'made' a TVI who have no experience...what awful pressure. Just sat in an IEP where at the end of the meeting the director told the parents they put in for emergency TVI status for their special ed teacher who knew nothing about it who was sitting in the meeting also. Teacher was just as stunned as the parents. How long do we think she will last? She is a great special ed teacher but now what....... no support and a huge new blind low vision caseload in the middle of the year....... what about the kids..... are they destined to the 74% unemployment rate now..... I know we have all seen this too many times...does not go well for either kids or teachers and you get very angry parents Sent from Dr Denise M Robinson On Feb 11, 2019, at 11:39 AM, a1632287 <a1632287@mail.niu.edu<mailto:a1632287@mail.niu.edu>> wrote: Dumbing down standards never improves the profession. Bill Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7 active, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: Dennis Thurman <thurman60@gmail.com<mailto:thurman60@gmail.com>> Date: 2/8/19 4:12 PM (GMT-05:00) To: "Ely, Mindy" <msely@ilstu.edu<mailto:msely@ilstu.edu>> Cc: AERNet <aernet@lists.aerbvi.org<mailto:aernet@lists.aerbvi.org>> Subject: Re: [AERNet] TVI Attrition So...if we can’t place qualified professionals to serve our children, lower the qualifications. I hope To God these aren’t the same people who license pilots or medical personnel. Sent from my iPad On Feb 8, 2019, at 3:43 PM, Ely, Mindy <msely@ilstu.edu<mailto:msely@ilstu.edu>> wrote: Does anyone know of research that speaks to attrition rates specifically among TVIs? We are preparing a rebuttal to a state proposal to reduce licensure requirements to become a TVI. One argument we've considered is that untrained TVIs could have higher attrition rates. Anyone know if there is truth to this hypothesis or have something that could support our claim? Thanks! Mindy Mindy S. Ely, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Low Vision/Blindness Programs EL VISTA Project Co-Coordinator Illinois State University Department of Special Education Phone: 217-899-1193 www.eiviprofessionals.com<http://www.eiviprofessionals.com> http://education.illinoisstate.edu/cert_vision/ Find us on Facebook by searching Illinois State University, EL VISTA EL VISTA is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education (H325K140108). You are subscribed to AERNet, The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Listserv. To post a message to all the list members, send an email to aernet@lists.aerbvi.org<mailto:aernet@lists.aerbvi.org>. Address list requests to: aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org<mailto:aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org> To unsubscribe from this list, go to http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org and follow instructions to unsubscribe. Go to the same address to access the list archives. _______________________________________________ AERNet mailing list AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org<mailto:AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org> http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org You are subscribed to AERNet, The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Listserv. To post a message to all the list members, send an email to aernet@lists.aerbvi.org<mailto:aernet@lists.aerbvi.org>. Address list requests to: aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org<mailto:aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org> To unsubscribe from this list, go to http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org and follow instructions to unsubscribe. Go to the same address to access the list archives. _______________________________________________ AERNet mailing list AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org<mailto:AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org> http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org -- Sarah D. Bussey Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist Certified Teacher of Students with Vision Impairments Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist You are subscribed to AERNet, The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Listserv. To post a message to all the list members, send an email to aernet@lists.aerbvi.org<mailto:aernet@lists.aerbvi.org>. Address list requests to: aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org<mailto:aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org> To unsubscribe from this list, go to http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org and follow instructions to unsubscribe. Go to the same address to access the list archives. _______________________________________________ AERNet mailing list AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org<mailto:AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org> http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org This e-mail transmission from the Francis Howell School District including any accompanying data or files is confidential and is intended only for the use of the named recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, an addressee, or the person responsible for delivering this to an addressee, you are hereby notified that reading, using, copying, or distributing any part of this message is strictly prohibited. If you receive this message in error, or are not the named recipient(s), please notify the sender at the email address above, delete this email from your computer, and destroy any copies in any form immediately. Improper retention of this e-mail and any attachment(s) to this e-mail could subject you to legal action under pertinent federal and state statutes, and result in civil and criminal penalties.