Borja to Bennett: Have you taken PRAXIS?

Public School System associate commissioner for administrative services David M. Borja yesterday asked public school teacher representative Ambrose Bennett whether he himself has passed PRAXIS or not.

Borja, who expressed his disappointment with the teacher representative’s letter to the editor published in yesterday’s issue of the Saipan Tribune, said if Bennett had taken and passed the certification exam he should submit the results immediately to the Human Resource Office in Capitol Hill.

Borja said Bennett should be a role model for the rest of the teachers about taking and passing PRAXIS. Borja said he was agitated when the teacher representative quoted that he and board chair Roman C. Benavente should be held accountable for the condition of the school system. “We should all be accountable not just the leaders.”

The associate commissioner said the teachers themselves, who did not take or at least pass the test, should take the responsibility of facing the consequences of failing to comply with federal law.

“I hope the teachers would have the strength to continue studying [for PRAXIS test],” he said. He added that like any other professions and careers such as lawyers and nurses, teachers must pass a licensure exam to be credible for their practice.

Bennett wrote in his letter to the editor that if Mr. Borja and BOE chair Roman C. Benavente would want to continue to gamble that “all teachers will take and pass PRAXIS with substitute back ups, then the we [community members] would know whom to hold accountable for what happens at the beginning of the next school year.”

Borja said he would like to reiterate, especially to the teachers, that the requirement for them to take and pass both PRAXIS I and II is mandated by the Department of Education and found in its Teacher Quality for State Grants guide.

Bennett articulated his concerns over the teachers’ tenure in PSS through a letter he submitted to the board during its special meeting last week. Borja said Bennett has been lobbying for the tenure system. “But how can you secure their tenure when they’re not highly qualified?” Borja asked.

The associate commissioner also said Bennett should avoid writing his comments and suggestions to the board. He said Bennett is part of the board and that he could always discuss his recommendations to the board during meetings.

Bennett’s concerns can all be answered in the rules and regulations and other related materials either online or hard copies. “It’s available online. As a teacher rep, he [Bennett] needs to be well read not only with collective bargaining but also in policies that the school district is following and also the BOE policies,” Borja said.

Borja said he had mentioned in several interviews before that PRAXIS is a federal requirement and not meeting this requirement could result in a loss of federal grants worth $10 million.

Education secretary Margaret Spellings provided all schools a guide to rules and regulations for a Highly Qualified Teacher. Some of the information about the regulations could also be accessed online, said Borja. Part of the regulations Spellings stated is the process of informing parents should a particular school did not meet the requirement of having educators who are highly qualified.

“Would parents allow their children to be transported by bus drivers who do not actually have a license to drive?” Borja asked.