The following words and terms, when used in this Chapter, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Administrator" means a duly certified person who devotes a majority of time to service as a superintendent, principal, vice principal, or in any other administrative or supervisory capacity in a school district.

"Nonreemployment" means the nonrenewal of a teacher's contract upon expiration of the contract (end of school term).

"Policies" means principles adopted by the State Board of Education (Board) to help it identify and select actions to guide and determine its present and future decisions.

"Policy of evaluation" means a school district's policy, developed pursuant to 70 O.S. § 6-101.10, describing the total teacher and administrator evaluation system including the purposes of evaluating, the criteria to be used as standards, and the procedure to be followed in implementing the evaluation process.

"Procedures" means actions specified by rules and regulations to be followed in carrying out a policy or law. It may also mean processes used in the implementation of a program.

"Professional development program" means the program mandated by 70 O.S. § 6-194 for the continuous improvement and enrichment of the certified teachers and administrators of this state.

"Revocation" or "revoked" means the invalidation of a teacher or administrator certification by the State Board of Education pursuant to due process procedures provided for by applicable laws and regulations.

"Student teacher" means 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 an internship under the supervision of a certified teacher, shall be accorded the same protection of the laws that accorded the certified teacher.

"Suspension" or "suspended" means temporary discontinuance of a teacher or administrator certification pursuant to 75 O.S. § 314, upon a finding by the State Board of Education that public health, safety, or welfare imperatively requires emergency action.

"Teacher" means any person who holds a valid certificate issued by and in accordance with the rules of the State Board of Education and who is employed to serve as district superintendent, principal, supervisor, counselor, librarian, school nurse, coach, athletic trainer, or classroom teacher or in any other instructional, supervisory or administrative capacity; or all persons holding proper certificates and connected in any capacity with the instruction or supervision of students.

Amended at 10 Ok Reg 2695, eff 6-25-93

Amended at 13 Ok Reg 65, eff 10-5-95 (emergency)

Amended at 13 Ok Reg 1315, eff 5-13-96

Amended at 14 Ok Reg 3297, eff 5-5-97 (emergency)

Amended at 15 Ok Reg 2212, eff 6-11-98

Amended at 37 Ok Reg 1186, eff 9-11-20

Amended at 42 Ok Reg, Number 20, effective 7-11-25