Teachers are affected directly in the classroom and during their teaching career by national and local policies and state law. Issues change the entire course of education from time to time. This course provides an overview the legal aspect of teaching including the rights of students, parents/families, and the legal rights and responsibilities of the teacher. Focus is on positive interaction with parents and community organizations, social issues involving schools and families, school law, contemporary legal issues involving schools and families, and wellness in the community and schools. It is to be taken concurrently with Student Teaching. Prerequisite: Admission to Student Teaching. F, Sp

Mission Statement: The course enhances the Reflective Practitioner mission of the Teacher Education program in preparing teacher candidates for administrative and legal structures of school through reflection on real issues and situations important for teachers from administrative viewpoints. This course emphasizes legal, ethical, and organizational situations that confront teachers and other school personnel in educational settings. School organization policies and procedures will be introduced, reviewed, and discussed as they pertain to educational practice in the United States and Oklahoma in particular. Case studies will be used to allow students to begin to think and address presented items in legalistic views and terminology.

• Office: Central Office, Shawnee Public Schools 326 North Union, Shawnee, OK 74801
• Office Hours: 8:00-4:30 pm by appointment
• Phone: 878-3125 office, 275-3668 home
• Email: mbradford@shawnee.k12.ok.us

I hold a B.S. in Elementary Education, M.Ed. in Public School Administration, and certification in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Principalship, and Superintendency. I have thirty years of experience in public education as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, director, assistant superintendent, and superintendent.

Course Objectives: By the end of the semester the student will be able to:

1. Converse on the legal and professional responsibilities of public school teachers.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of legal matters pertinent to teachers and common to all educational systems in the United States.
3. Describe components of the governance and operation of the school and administrative units at the local district, state and federal levels.
4. Understand the legal process as it pertains to school administration and policy.
5. List and discuss issues in education relating to purpose of education in relationship to public law and school organization.
6. List and discuss issues in educational administration in relationship to public law and school organization.
7. List and discuss issues related to family and social expectations, community characteristics, racial and ethnic diversity in relationship to public law and school organization.
8. List and discuss issues and policies related to school financing.
9. List and discuss school administration policies and procedures.
10. List, discuss and experience school personnel and teacher evaluation policies and procedures.
11. Attend and analyze a school board meeting.
12. Gain personal perspective and experience with community organizations, i.e. PTA, Adopt-a-School sponsors, business/corporate sponsors.
13. Develop an understanding of parents and family members in relationship with their perspective on "school", i.e. procedures, practices, and policies.

1. The teacher fosters positive interaction with school colleagues, parents/families, and organizations in the community to actively engage them in support of students’ learning and well-being.
2. The teacher understands the process of continuous lifelong learning, the concept of making learning enjoyable, and the need for a willingness to change when the change leads to greater student learning and development.
3. The teacher understands the legal aspect of teaching including the rights of students and parents/families, as well as the legal rights and responsibilities of the teacher.
4. The teacher understands, and is able to develop instructional strategies/plans based on the Oklahoma core curriculum.
5. The teacher understands the State teacher evaluation process, "Oklahoma Criteria for Effective Teaching Performance," and how to incorporate these criteria in designing instructional strategies

• Class handouts
• The Oklahoma Law Book , available on the Oklahoma State Department of Education website, http://sde.state.ok.us
• Shawnee Public Schools Policies
• Shawnee Public Schools Student/Staff Handbooks
• Shawnee Public Schools Negotiated Master Contracts
• Handouts and articles

AASA - American Association of School Administrators http://www.aasa.org/

The main professional organization for school superintendents. Many school policy resources.

NASSP - National Association of Secondary School Principals http://www.nassp.org/

The main professional organization for secondary school principals. Many school policy resources.

SDE - Oklahoma State Department of Education http://www.sde.state.ok.us/

The State Department provides many Oklahoma school policy resources, school laws, and links to many additional informational resources.

1. This course is based on participation. Attendance is required. Objectives may be achieved through participation in discussions, student teaching observations, attendance, outside readings as assigned, guest presenters, parent-community meetings or conferences, field experiences as assigned, lectures and written assignments.
2. Professionalism and ability to see both sides of issues is a must to be successful as an educator. Reflective practitioners are those who strive to improve their performance, understand teaching as a mission and have a positive impact on student learning.
3. You will take a mid-term exam and a final exam.
4. Student teaching and field experiences provide important opportunities for learning; therefore, you will be required to maintain a journal during your student teaching and/or field experiences.
5. You will make a presentation during class on a topic you determine and I agree. The presentation should show evidence of research with planned activities or handouts.
6. You will be asked to keep a parent/community interaction packet/portfolio. This will include examples of letters sent home to parents, newsletters from the class or school, PTA notes, student newsletters, student campus activities which reflect community or parent involvement, fund-raising projects, service projects conducted on campus, and other materials which reflect school/home/community relations or involvement.
7. Please make course handouts and materials part of your portfolio.
8. Please follow all rules and regulations which are expected for students in good standing at St. Gregory's University. Should you have conflicts and need to make special arrangements, please call me at 878-3125

Students' experience with school policies and law will be assessed verbally in the first class period.

Grading Scale:

Grades A = 700-750 pts

B = 675-699

C = 600-674

D = 500-599

F = Below 500