Talawanda
School District is committed to ensuring student and
teacher success. The district strives for excellence as the
staff actively addresses state and federal policies. One of
the latest federal laws, "No Child Left Behind" has created
an accountability piece for all school districts. This law
has encouraged the district to review recruitment and
retention of highly-qualified teachers and school leaders.
The Talawanda School District ensures that 100% of the
staff in charge of core academic instruction are "highly
qualified." This
means that any teacher teaching English, reading, language
arts, the arts, foreign language, mathematics, science,
history, government, economics, civics, and geography, must
have completed a teacher education program from an
accredited institution of higher education or they are
making satisfactory progress in an alternative teacher
education licensure program that includes passing the
Praxis test and they are participating in a structured
mentoring program. If teachers were licensed prior to the
state test then they should hold a permanent teaching
certificate or have a master's degree in the content area
which they teach.
Talawanda School District is proud to report that 100% of
the certified and paraprofessional staff is highly
qualified according to the Ohio Department of
Education.