Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Biology certification becomes issue at HS

Gurdon Public Schools has been called to task by the Arkansas State Education Department regarding the employment of a biology teacher without proper certification.

Superintendent Bobby Smithson said during a recent interview that he does not believe any ramifications to the school system are forthcoming "because Middle School Principal Libby White, who holds a certification in biology, is teaching our three biology classes right now at the high school while Coach John Pace substitutes for her at CMS."

"This is a temporary fix, as our biology teacher has taken a Mississippi test to become certified that Arkansas will recognize if he makes 150 on it," Smithson said.

Todd Lewis, who was removed from the Gurdon biology teachers position by the Arkansas Department of Education, was hired in January of 2000 and worked one semester. Smithson said Lewis did not teach the next semester, but was employed by the district to teach biology in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003.

"This was two and a half years," Smithson said. "The state told us he had three years to get certified in biology. We thought he still had half a year. But the year of 2003-2004 - when Lewis sat out - counted, and the clock was ticking."

Smithson said the district rehired Lewis for 2005-2006 without realizing his three years to take the certification test was up.

"On April 4, the Arkansas Department of Education came to Gurdon and looked at Todd Lewiss lack of certification, told us the clock was still ticking when he was not in our employ and gave us 30 days to fix the problem," Smithson said.

"They said they just found out about the clock still ticking rule concerning three year certification time. If they just found out, how were we supposed to know? Smithson ask. We fixed it with Libby White and her certification, but we intend to put Lewis back in if he gets the 150 score necessary on the Mississippi praxis test. Shifting Ms. White is just a quick fix, not a permanent solution."

Smithson said he believes Lewis is certified in physical education and health. Lewis has been reassigned to only those classes which he can prove certification "until he passes the certification test in biology."

Smithson displayed an Arkansas Educational law book, which is nearly three inches thick.

"I am not making excuses," Smithson said. "My interpretation of three years to get certified was wrong. I thought it meant three years of employment. So did the people I talked to, but I take full responsibility for the misinterpretation. I can only do my best to keep up with the educational law, but I know the buck stops with me.

"As I say, in this instance, because of Ms. White being certified, we should not suffer any consequences because we fixed the situation within the 30 days we were given. I am not sure what we would have done if Miss White had not been certified.

"We have been advertising for a biology teacher for some time and have not received a single application. Biology teachers can write their own ticket and apparently Gurdon is not a top choice for them to work."