Letter to Lawyer

Dear Ms. Wilson,

My name is LeFerna Walch. I am 57 and my husband Roger is 72. When my husband lost work and was forced into early retirement, I was considered a displaced homeworker. I couldn't get a decent job, (a minimum wage job that offered enough hours that I could afford the gas to get there) so I went back to college. I chose a four-year "for-profit" university which is on the list as being accepted by the CHEA as of Sept. 2012.

I want to be a substitute teacher in and around my county. To do this, I needed 90 credits by what they first said was a four-year accredited college, and at least a 2.0 GPA (which I have a 3.5) but I had to go through PESG, Professional Educational Services Group, who staffs the substitute teachers in most of the school districts in my area.

I took all the tests, extra child education classes, had the background check and fingerprinting only to find out that PESG says Michigan will not accept my transcripts. They tell me they have to operate under the rules in their manual—of what is required for a permit to teach in Michigan schools. The manual says we must have a qualified four-year university that is "regionally" accredited... so I am being denied the right to work because my college education is not accepted in my state. I received financial aid from the Dept. of Education (and owe over 60,000.00) and the fact that it is not being accepted by the Michigan Department of Education seems unfair in the least. 

I did some research, as I planned to fight this. And from what I have found out, I believe this is old information that PESG has in their manual and it needs to be updated.


I see that Michigan’s substitute teachers are governed by the MCSC Class 924 Item 75 which now tells us the following information—

The Non-Accredited Colleges and Universities that were not satisfactory has grown so fast that the MCSC offers the following guidance by the CHEA on the acceptance of degrees that meet the educational requirements for positions in the Michigan State classified services.

My college,  Full Sail University is nationally accredited by the ACICS... which is on the list as being accepted by the CHEA as of Sept. 2012. This is why I think this could be new information that has not been relayed to PESG or added to their 2012-2013 manual. 

I wrote to PESG with my findings and they can't do anything. They have to follow the manual they've been given, but they have employed me to work as a paraprofessional, only.

I believe I am getting unfair treatment and should have been working as a substitute teacher by now. Lenawee County is in need of substitute teachers. It doesn't pay much... but I have lost a lot of money at this point.

Can you help me clear up this mess and see that the CHEA list is accepted as the MCSC says it should be? And help me get PESG an updated manual?


Thank you


LeFerna Walch