Ohio School Library Media Specialist Recruitment

Related Links AASL Recruitment to School Librarianship Information AASL Education/Careers in Librarianship Information ALA Education/Careers in Librarianship Information Ohio Department of Education Center for the Teaching Profession Teacher Education and Licensure Programs Licensure Requirements KSU School of Library and Information Sciece Sign up for OELMA-L email list:

1. Licensure Requirements in Ohio - what are the state requirements for working as a school library media specialists in the state? Do these differ at different levels (e.g., elementary, secondary) or by size of school?

Ohio has moved from certification to licensure requirements. School Library Media Specialists are required to hold a multi-age license in library media. Library Media Multi-age license, valid for teaching learners from ages three through twenty-one and pre-kindergarten through grade twelve in the curriculum areas named in such license. Preparation in the teaching field shall constitute at least an academic major or its equivalent with sufficient advanced coursework in all areas to be taught as specified by the teacher preparation institution and approved by the Ohio Department of Education.

1. Temporary Licensure - does the state allow for emergency certification / licensure? What is the process for doing this?

Temporary Licensure may be acquired when no properly licensed candidates are available.


Rule 3301-23-44 describes the rules for temporary licenses, for teachers and pupil services personnel, and substitute teaching licenses. Temporary licenses are to be used only when a properly licensed and suitable candidate cannot be found. Candidates for temporary teaching licenses must already hold a valid standard certificate or teaching license and, for most positions, must have completed a minimum number of hours of coursework in the content area they will be teaching under the temporary license. Requirements for temporary pupil service licenses vary, depending on the position to be filled. Rules for substitute teaching licenses (part E) outline requirements for both shortterm and long-term substitute licenses. These licenses are designed for individuals who will be teaching as substitutes for regular full-time teachers. A baccalaureate degree is required for all substitute licenses. A temporary middle-childhood, adolescence to young adult, or multiage license may be issued to the holder of a currently valid standard certificate or provisional or professional license who evidences twenty semester hours in each of the subject areas for which licensure is sought provided the vacancy has been posted with the Ohio Department of Education for two weeks and no properly licensed and suitable candidate has been identified by the employing district.

2. Alternative Licensure - are there alternative forms of certification / licensure available?

An Alternative Educator License is available. The nonrenewable two-year alternative educator license, valid for teaching the subject area named in such license in grades seven through twelve, shall be issued at the request of the superintendent of a city, educational service center, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district to an individual who is deemed to be of good moral character and who evidences the following:

1. A baccalaureate degree;
2. A major with a GPA of at least 2.5 in the subject area to be taught, or extensive work experience directly related to the area to be taught.
3. Completion of six semester hours of professional education coursework within the past five years with a GPA of 2.5, and from a college or university approved to prepare teachers, including:
1. Three semester hours in the developmental characteristics of the adolescent through young adult student; and
2. Three semester hours in teaching methods. (This course must include a field experience.)
4. Successful completion of the State Board of Education required examination for teacher licensure that measures content knowledge of the subject area for which the alternative educator license is sought.
5. The employing school district shall plan for a mentoring program for alternatively-licensed educators, including the following, and shall submit such plan to the Department of Education:
1. Assistance in acquiring knowledge of the school curriculum, responsibilities for implementing the curriculum, and the instructional resources available for such implementation;
2. Assistance with management tasks; and
3. Assistance in the improvement of instructional skills and classroom management.
2. Educational Institutions - where can a person get the appropriate degree and/or credential / licensure in the state?

   Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
   ALA Accredited
   Carolyn Brodie (cbrodie@kent.edu)
   

   Ohio Dominican University, Sunbury, Ohio (Columbus)
   Tina Butler (butlert@ohiodominican.edu)

   Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
   Bonnie Mathies (bmathies@wright.edu)

   College and Universities in Ohio that offer and Associate Degree in Library Science include:

   • Ohio Dominican College
   • University of Cincinnati Raymond Walters College
   • Belmont Technical College
3. Scholarships - are any local, regional or state scholarships available?

The Ohio Educational Library Media Association (OELMA) offers two scholarships to worthy students pursuing study for positions as school library/media specialists. Since its beginning, OELMA has been providing encouragement to those wishing to enter the school library/media field through the awarding of scholarships. Visit the OELMA Awards& Grants page at http://www.oelma.org for more information.

The Kent State School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) has been awarded federal funding to provide one-time academic scholarships to sixteen students who plan on becoming either young adult librarians in a public library or school library media specialists in a K-12 school. Funding has been provided through the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) as part of the "2003 IMLS Recruiting and Educating Librarians for the 21st Century."

4. Salary - what is the salary range for a certified school library media specialist in the state?

Credentialed/licensed school library media specialists are paid on the scale as credentialed/ licensed teachers. School districts establish district-wide pay scales which vary from school district to school district. School districts may exceed the minimum base teacher pay, but may not pay below it.
$20, 000 Minimum base teacher pay (0 Years Experience Bachelors Degree)
$21, 900 Minimum base teacher pay (0 Years Experience Masters Degree)


The 2003 average library media specialist salary is $53,582. The average teacher 2003 salary is $45,771. Averages vary between city school districts, exempted village school districts, and local school districts, with the highest average salaries located in city school districts. The library media specialists average may include extended time pay differential. http://www.ode.state.oh.us/data/staff_salary/CSTBLA_2003.LPT

5. Resources - what resources are available for locating school library media positions in the state?

Ohio Department of Education maintains a job board for employment in Ohio public schools.

OELMA also tries to keep track of library media openings in our state and post them to the OELMA website. Submit a job on the OELMA website (under Professional Opportunities à Jobs) at: http://www.oelma.org.

For more information, please contact:
Ohio Department of Education
25 South Front Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-4183.
Toll Free 1-(877)-644-6338.
Ask for the Office of Certification and Licensure