Walden School of Liberal Arts | Educator Licensing Notice

Nearly all Walden teachers are certified through the Utah State Board of Education. Walden is proud of its dedicated, highly qualified staff which includes two Utah State teachers of the year and at least ten individuals with post-graduate degrees in their fields.

Pursuant to Utah Board Rule 277-301-8, this serves as notice that Walden School of Liberal Arts currently has in its employ some individual(s) who hold LEA-specific educator licenses (see table below). These teachers do no have professional or associate licensure in their subject areas, but are authorized to teach under LEA Specific licensure. Each of these teachers is eminently qualified to teach their classes through university preparation and/or career experience.

In accordance with R277-301-7, Walden School of Liberal Arts prepares and supports LEA specific educators with professional development aligned with Utah Effective Teaching Standards. Teachers are provided with training in their content areas as well as best practices in pedagogy. The following describes the percentage breakdown of teacher qualifications at Walden

59% hold Professional licensure: These educators have completed a Utah State authorized educator preparation program that included content and pedagogical knowledge classes.
11% hold Associate licensure: These educators are currently completing an educator preparation program, but have not yet completed all requirements for a Professional Educator license, license area, or endorsement. These educators are enrolled in a university-based or Local Education Agency (LEA)-based program. When the educator completes the program, they will have a professional level.
30% hold LEA-Specific licensure: These educators have not yet completed an educator preparation program, but are authorized by the Utah State Board of Education to teach because they are eminently qualified due to professional experience or knowledge in the subject(s) that they teach. Many of these teachers teach elective classes such as art, Spanish, photography, & physical education.

For a complete definition of educator licensing levels, see Utah State Board Rule 277-301 at: https://rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r277/r277-301.htm

Walden LEA Specific Educators

The following teachers are awaiting LEA Specific authorization form USBE to teach a one class outside of their area of licensure during the FY24 Spring Semester. These individuals are eminently qualified to teach in their particular area of expertise, but are not traditionally certified in the subject(s) indicated. Three are certified to teach in their primary subject area, but also teach the elective class listed below.

Joshua Faulkner: Improvisation

Joshua Faulkner has 26 years of performing arts experience, including video production work as a director, actor, set designer, special effects editor, and practical effects editor. including for “The Dream Merchants", "The Mayor", and “Exit.” His live theater experience includes narrative driven musical/theater performance for which he has served as writer, director, actor, composer, live performer, digital and practical effects, live audio/visual director, and costume designer.

Carl Young: Woodworking

Carl is a master teacher with licensure in mathematics and advanced degrees in mathematics and marine biology. Carl has multiple areas of expertise outside of his core subject areas. In previous semesters, Carl worked with students to build a yurt and decking (twice). He has also completed multiple advanced woodworking projects, including building a hand-crafted wooden canoe. He is excited to be working with students to teach beginning woodworking skills.

Joshua is also an exceptional mathematics teacher, having won Utah's Charter School Teacher of the Year.

Misty Rutherford, Health I

Misty Rutherford has a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from Brigham Young University. She has served as a teacher in both the public and private sector for some time and is passionate about teaching youth about health and movement. Misty is working on obtaining Health certification.

Aimee Gerlach: Floriculture

Aimee Gerlach has a master's degree in curriculum development and has extensive experience both as an art teacher and as a florist. She is excited to bring her unique skill set into the classroom. She designed Walden's Floriculture class around the CTE requirements and is ensuring that her students are creating floral arrangements and learning what it would require to work in the floriculture world. Students are researching jobs they might be interested in and what it would take for them to get those jobs. By the end of this course students will have the skills (and portfolio) needed to become florists as well as an understanding of the occupations in the floriculture industry.

Educator License Look-up

The following is a link to the Utah Educator Look-up Tool, provided in accordance with R277-515-7: https://cactus.schools.utah.gov/PersonSearch