HOUSTON — Houston ISD, Texas’ largest school district, is expected to vote next month on becoming a District of Innovation or DOI, which would permit the hiring of non-certified teachers.
The Houston Federation of Teachers union opposes the move saying it means “quantity not quality."
So, we went to see how non-certified teachers work in local Districts of Innovation in the Houston area.
Charles Farr teaches high school IT classes at Fort Bend ISD. He and 39 other FBISD teachers -- out of a total of 4,619 -- are DOI non-certified. So is he qualified to teach?
“I’ve trained, I think in 20 years, a little over 300 computer technicians and interns to do what I am teaching now," Farr said.
He worked for Microsoft, owned his own computer repair shop and has a slew of IT certificates. Farr also has a daughter who encouraged him to teach.
“I was sitting around being retired when she said, ‘Hey dad, my school could use somebody like you.’”
In September, Farr started teaching computer repair and IT Networking classes at the James Reese Career and Technical Center.
He must also complete an alternative certification program for teaching.
“When I get out of school, I go to school," Farr joked.
In fact, Farr's principal was also first hired as an uncertified teacher.
“It was common practice in North Carolina," Dr. Julie Erdie explained. "Because I was a math major, I had my degree in math, so I was hired under an alternative certification program.”
Of Texas 1,207 school districts and charters, 975 are already considered Districts of Innovation.