I am pleased to inform you that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is seeking volunteers for appointment to the Educator Licensure Panel Review.
The Panel Review provides an alternative route (to administrator and professional support personnel licenses) for applicants who have substantial experience and formal education relevant to the license sought. Applicants are interviewed and Panel Review members make recommendations to the Commissioner to either license an applicant, modify their licensure requirements, or refer the applicant to other licensure option(s).
Mary Ann McKinnon is the Associate Dean of the College of Education and Allied Studies at Bridgewater State University and she had this to say about serving on the panel, "Serving on the Massachusetts Licensure Panel Review is truly a labor of love for me. The many dedicated educators who my colleagues and I have helped on the path to licensure consistently inspire me. For so many people, the review panel is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate through portfolio, recommendations and interview that they truly meet the high standards set by our state. I feel through my 20 years of service on this panel that I had a hand in vetting and providing hundreds of quality educators for the students of the Commonwealth."
There are currently nine Panel Review members comprised of active and retired administrators, college/university officials, and professional support personnel license experts. I would like to expand this membership and ask that you nominate candidates for appointment or submit your own name for consideration.
Membership on the Panel Review is an unpaid volunteer position that requires preparation time as well as time for interviewing applicants. Notwithstanding, Panel Review members find the experience rewarding, and provide an invaluable service to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Beverly Nelson, recently retired and longtime deputy superintendent of Medford Public Schools, had this to say about serving on the panel, "For me the experience has been one of personal professional development and I have learned a great deal about licensure. Having this knowledge base has helped me to advise educators on licensure issues. It is a wonderful opportunity to network with professional colleagues as well as get to know some very talented potential employees. I feel that by helping others achieve their licensure goals I am giving back to the profession."
Please submit your nominations by returning the attached panelist nomination form to the attention of Tim Wilson, Statewide Panel Review Coordinator at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 or by faxing it to 781-338-3391 or by emailing it to twilson@doe.mass.edu.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey C. Riley
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
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