Lewiston district reports progress on teacher certification, outlines recruitment and apprenticeship partnerships

Superintendent Jake Langley told a Jan. 28 workshop that Lewiston Public Schools has cut the number of uncertified or waiver staff from 37 to 17 in the first half of the school year and outlined efforts to recruit and upskill teachers and educational technicians.

Langley said the district has been leveraging federal and state grant funds, private foundation support (he referenced Alfond in general terms), Central Maine Community College (CMCC) partnerships and a Department of Labor apprenticeship model to create alternative on-ramps for certification. He said CMCC has modified course schedules and textbooks to offer cohort classes in evenings and at times accessible to working educators.

Why it matters: Teacher certification and staffing affect classroom quality and the district’s ability to deliver programs. Langley said flexibility in credentialing timelines and more access to locally offered coursework would help retain qualified staff and reduce reliance on emergency certifications.

Langley also urged the state to consider longer certification windows and more on-ramps so teachers can be evaluated on performance while working toward credentials. "If they're doing a good job in a classroom, and they're being evaluated by their administrative team, they have mentors that are peers, it doesn't have to be a 3 year window," he said, asking why the state could not permit longer paths with benchmarks.

The superintendent reported positive certification trends in district HR data but noted emergency certification rules limit placing staff in special-education roles because federal parameters restrict emergency certificates in that field. Committee members and councilors encouraged continued outreach and community engagement during the budget and hiring season.