Supervisory officers

Regulation changes facilitate hiring of supervisory officers

Council has approved changes to the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation that align with recent Education Act amendments that make it easier for Ontario school boards to hire highly qualified and experienced senior education officials from outside the province.

Recent changes to Regulation 309, Supervisory Officers, enable boards to employ a teacher for up to two years in a position requiring supervisory officer qualifications if the teacher has five years of teaching experience, an acceptable postsecondary degree, a masters or doctorate degree and at least two years of education-related leadership experience. Applicants will have to acquire the qualifications for a supervisory officer within two years, as stated in Ontario’s Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation.

Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne wrote to Council Chair Don Cattani in June to encourage the changes to the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation to complement the Ministry’s amendments to the Education Act.

“The government is committed to hiring the most highly qualified and experienced senior education officials into our schools,” Wynne said. “Outstanding supervisory officers and directors of education are critical to realizing the goals and aspirations we have for Ontario’s schools and students.”

The amendments to Part V. – Qualifications of Supervisory Officers in Regulation 184/97 enable the Registrar to grant supervisory officer qualifications to individuals who complete the Supervisory Officer’s Qualification Program (SOQP) within five years or who have qualifications and experience equivalent to all of the modules in the SOQP. Those who meet some but not all of the requirements would have two years – and a possible two-year extension – to show they are working toward successfully completing the SOQP qualifications.

While the amendments reduce the number of years of required experience to five from seven, the regulation now specifies that supervisory officer candidates need five years of “successful classroom teaching experience.”

Previously, Ontario asked that supervisory officer candidates hold qualifications to teach in the intermediate division and at least two other divisions. The intent is still the same but the language has changed. Now, applicants must be qualified to teach in the intermediate division or Grades 9 and 10 in technological education and two other divisions. The Registrar also has leeway to deem whether an individual’s qualifications are comparable.

Candidates must also satisfy one of the following requirements:

  • They hold principal qualifications in Ontario – or qualifications and experience the Registrar considers equivalent.
  • They hold specialist or honours specialist qualifications in Ontario or equivalent qualifications acceptable to the Registrar plus at least two years experience in a position as a board co-ordinator or consultant.
  • They have at least two years experience as an education officer, a supervisory official employed outside Ontario in an equivalent role, or as a program consultant for French-, English- or Native-language programs.

The Registrar may also consider an applicant’s experience in a leadership position with an education organization as comparable to that of education officers and consultants

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