§ 70-1-116. Positions in school system - Definitions.

As used in this act:

1.  Teacher:  Any person who is employed to serve as district superintendent, principal, supervisor, counselor, librarian, school nurse or classroom teacher, or in any other instructional, supervisory, or administrative capacity, is defined as a teacher. Such person shall not be deemed qualified unless he or she holds a valid certificate or license, issued by and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, to perform the particular services for which he or she is employed.

2.  Superintendent:  A superintendent of schools shall be the executive officer of the board of education and the administrative head of the school system of a district maintaining an accredited school, provided he or she holds an administrator's certificate recognized by the State Board of Education.

3.  Principal:  A principal shall be any person other than a district superintendent of schools having supervisory or administrative authority over any school or school building having two or more teachers.  A teaching principal shall be a principal who devotes at least one-half the time school is in session to classroom teaching.  Until July 1, 1993, teaching principals shall not be required to hold administrative certificates.  Beginning July 1, 1993, teaching principals shall be required to hold administrative certificates.

4.  For purposes of complying with the State Aid Law and other statutes which apportion money on the basis of teaching units or the number of teachers employed or qualified, all persons holding proper certificates or licenses and connected in any capacity with the instruction of pupils shall be designated as "teachers".

5.  Entry-year Teacher:  An entry-year teacher is any licensed teacher who is employed in a local school to serve as a classroom teacher under the guidance and assistance of a teacher consultant and an entry-year assistance committee.  Any such person shall have completed the program of the college or school of education of the accredited institution of higher learning from which the person has been graduated.

6.  Student Teacher:  A student teacher is any student who is enrolled in an institution of higher learning approved by the State Board of Education for teacher training and who is jointly assigned by such institution of higher learning and a school district's board of education to perform practice teaching under the direction of a regularly employed and certified teacher.  A student teacher, while serving a nonsalaried internship under the supervision of a certified teacher, shall be accorded the same protection of the laws as that accorded the certified teacher.

7.  A school nurse employed full time by a board of education shall be a registered nurse licensed by the Oklahoma State Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education, and certified the same as a teacher by the State Department of Education.  Provided that any person who is employed as a full-time nurse in any school district in Oklahoma, but who is not registered on the effective date of this act, may continue to serve in the same capacity, however such person shall, under rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education, attend classes in nursing and prepare to become registered.

A school nurse employed by a board of education shall be accorded the same protection of laws and all other benefits accorded a certified teacher.

8.  Support Employee:  A support employee shall be an employee who provides those services which are not performed by certified teachers, principals, superintendents or administrators and which are necessary for the efficient and satisfactory functioning of a school district.

Laws 1971, c. 281, § 1-116, eff. July 2, 1971; Laws 1973, c. 193, § 1, emerg. eff. May 17, 1973; Laws 1980, c. 284, § 15, emerg. eff. June 10, 1980; Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 58, emerg. eff. April 25, 1990; Laws 1993, c. 239, § 20, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 1994, c. 345, § 1, eff. July 1, 1994.