70-1-116.

§70-1-116.


    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.