Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-1-116: Positions in school system - Definitions

As used in this title:

1. "Teacher" means any person who is employed to serve as

district superintendent, principal, supervisor, counselor,

librarian, school nurse, athletic trainer, or classroom teacher or

in any other instructional, supervisory or administrative capacity.

The person shall not be deemed qualified unless the person holds a

valid certificate issued by and in accordance with the rules of the

State Board of Education or the rules of the State Board of Career

and Technology Education, to perform the particular services for

which the person is employed;

2. "Superintendent" or "superintendent of schools" means the

executive officer of the board of education and the administrative

head of the school system of a district maintaining an accredited

school, provided the person holds an administrator's certificate

recognized by the State Board of Education;

3. "Principal" means 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 (1/2) the time school is in session to classroom

teaching. Teaching principals shall be required to hold

administrative certificates;

4. "Teachers" means, for purposes of complying with the State

Aid Law and other statutes, but not any other provision of law,

which apportion money on the basis of teaching units or the number

of teachers employed or qualified, all persons holding proper

certificates and connected in any capacity with the instruction of

pupils;

5. "Inductee" means any certified teacher who is employed in a

local school to serve as a classroom teacher under the guidance and

assistance of a mentor teacher or teachers;

6. "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 the

institution of higher learning and a board of education of a school

district 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 as that accorded

the certified teacher and shall be eligible to receive compensation

beginning on the first day of the internship for up to one full

school year; provided, however, that such compensation shall not be

considered compensation for purposes of teacher retirement or the

minimum salary schedule;

7. "School nurse" means a person employed full time by a board

of education who is a registered nurse licensed by the Oklahoma

State Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education and is

certified the same as a teacher by the State Board of Education.

Provided, that any person who is employed as a full-time school

nurse in any school district in Oklahoma who is not registered on

July 2, 1971, may continue to serve in the same capacity; however,

such person shall, under rules 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 as a

certified teacher;

8. "Athletic trainer" means a person employed full time by a

board of education who is a Certified Athletic Trainer with current

certification from the Board of Certification of the National

Athletic Trainers' Association and is also currently licensed to

practice in the state in accordance with the State Board of Medical

Licensure and Supervision. An athletic trainer employed by a board

of education shall be accorded the same protection of laws and all

other benefits as a certified teacher; and

9. "Support employee" means an employee who provides those

ification of the National

Athletic Trainers' Association and is also currently licensed to

practice in the state in accordance with the State Board of Medical

Licensure and Supervision. An athletic trainer employed by a board

of education shall be accorded the same protection of laws and all

other benefits as a certified teacher; and

9. "Support employee" means 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.