Comments on: A Waste of Time?

By: Kathee McCright

Kathee McCright — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 21:32:39 +0000

I don’t know what the subbing situation is in Indiana, but last year, I started as a para-educator sub and found myself working quite a bit. Learned several things – first, I was much happier working with the lower grades; second, would not want to be “in charge” of a classroom; and third, that I rather enjoyed it. I’m now working four hours a day which suits me just fine in a full-time [every day] job at a local school. In Iowa, because I have a Masters, I could have taught middle school and high school after taking a three or four day course – only as a sub, however — but, I don’t want to be in charge!
I’m in Cedar Rapids, and they are really hurting for substitute teachers at all levels. My brother does it, and he could be teaching every day. I would suggest that you go for it, especially if you want to teach math and science.
As an aside, I searched for a middle school/high school math tutor for two years before I found one. She is VERY busy, and it has made all the difference in the world for my child. If you can do something like that [I couldn't], talk with your high school math teachers. Good luck.

By: Jeannette

Jeannette — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:12:55 +0000

Having raised four children as a single parent, I always had to find ways to reinvent myself, otherwise I would not be able to support my family. Each time I took a class or learned a new skill it opened up doors in areas I would not have dreamed of. As I tell my daughters, think and work smarter not harder. Think about what you are doing and how this will effect your children and your life. As usual God will show the path if you are listening

By: Marianna

Marianna — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:17:23 +0000

In our area people who sub seem to be the ones that move up to the regular teaching jobs. Don’t know how much you can take on, but if you can sub or tutor while you take classes…

I know you are stuck in the “you have to have a job in order to get a job” place. I was there once too and very miserable. Best wishes.

By: Richard Moore

Richard Moore — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:35:22 +0000

My wife taught high school English for four years straight out of college in the 1960s. In her early 50s she went back to get her Master’s in Special Ed, which was and is much in demand and taught for an additional 13 years, retiring recently. She spent over ten years in urban Arlington, VA schools and the last several in our home in rural Southwestern Virginia.

Based upon what I’ve learned from observing, I would be encouraging about this path. Here the school systems seem to accept the “second career” folks, especially for science and math. As an aside, I think your experience as an active farmer could help you in a rural area. The science teachers around here are almost all part-time farmers and it helps them reach students (via real life examples, etc.) who are often from farm families.

In my observation, the largest category of teachers often passed over are those with many years of teaching experience in common areas such as English, history and etc. The years of experience makes them much more expensive than the recent graduates and every dollar is critical for schools in this time of shrinking budgets.

I think talking to some principals and teachers about the local scene will be very valuable. You can network at your PTA meetings with your kids.

Finally, substitute teaching also can bring in some money and give you more control of your time. In some districts (although not in our poor, rural area) you can get benefits as a long-term sub. Around here it is not necessary to have completed teacher certification to be a sub.

Good luck!

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 02:19:16 +0000

I’m going to write this comment without reading what others have said, so my apologies if it is redundant. First, if you think you’d like to be a teacher, I think this is a great plan. Schools are used to mothers who enter and leave the work force and having shown your dedication with classes and student teaching, your time out of the work force would be less held against you. Science and Math teachers are needed. My husband is a high school math teacher and even though he got laid off at one school during the worst of the economic meltdown, he’s always been able to work. Even tutoring is a pretty good way to pick up some extra cash. He loves teaching. Says he is never bored and loves working with kids at all skill levels.

But, I’ve also known people who invested time and money into getting certified to teach but found in their first year that they hated it. Controlling a classroom is a combination of skill and experience. I don’t think I could do it and admire those who do. And the constant teaching reforms drive many people mad. What I would advise is that you do some due diligence here. Volunteer – or find some other way to spend time in classrooms to see how it goes for you. Ask if you can talk with some principles or curriculum specialists at your local schools to find out if they agree with the assessment that science and math teachers are in demand. And if you decide that this is for you, get certified in as many subjects and grade levels as you can to boost your chances of getting a job. My impression is that chemistry, physics, and higher math teachers are the most needed. But your area may have different needs.

Best of luck to you and I hope that it works for you. I think it can be a great idea – if you’d like being a teacher.

By: zelda

zelda — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:41:12 +0000

I was hit by a drunk driver and after spending five years in a wheelchair, I realized that I was going to have to give up my job as an RN. I went back to school, first getting an additional bachelors, then an MA, and then PhD and I have to tell you that I don’t regret it at all. I was hired at my present job before I finished my dissertation and I love it. It pays very well and I also consult so I make enough money to support my husband and myself. I believe that if you do your research and enter the program with ambition and strategies to succeed, you will do just fine. Teaching is a job that requires a lot of work outside of the classroom but the benefits are well worth the burden of grading. I wish you success and hope you are able to get the teaching certificate and get back to work. BTW, there are tons of scholarships that I was eligible for and once at school, you probably could work in one of the writing centers or math centers as a tutor. If your state is like ours, once you have a MA, you automatically get paid 20 bucks an hour to tutor. Again, good luck and remember, you do what you have to do to get back in the rat race.

By: Em

Em — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:00:45 +0000

What about the Americops teaching program? I just went on Indiana’s school board licensing page and they do have emergency licenses as well as a bunch of stats on transition to teaching placements.

By: Em

Em — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 12:45:04 +0000

I would make some appointments to talk to some principles at schools in your area. Find out what they are looking for and how you do it. I don’t trust anyone at ANY university. They are all just looking at their enrollment numbers. Here in Ohio you can teach one year without your license. Then you go get your teaching block over the next summer and take the praxis. You don’t need a grad degree to teach and the teaching block to get certified is only five class at undergrad tuition rates. One of the problems that you are going to face is that you have a masters and experience. Even though its not in teaching it still counts and that will automatically make you more expensive than a young teacher just out of undergrad. It really is best for you to explore by subbing and networking with some principles, teachers, and superintendents.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:47:11 +0000

Good luck with teaching! You would be great at it. Science is in high demand and when people say they can’t get teaching jobs they are also probably talking about at the easy schools with easy students.

I know it is in the future, but when you go to do interviews give me a call. I used to work the interview process for Chicago Teaching Fellows and I could help you prep.

By: Barb

Barb — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:24:35 +0000

I am a 50 something who did go back to school 5 years ago for an ESL license. Oh yes, they are in short supply – I was told. Well, so far I have had 2 – 1 year jobs and 3 years of looking for another full time job. I finally have one but don’t know about next year. I love the job, but if I would have known that it would be so hard to find one, I don’t think I would have done it. It cost me 13K back in 06-07 and that was the cheapest program (in MN). Real tough to get any kind of teaching job here. Also I do believe my age (50s) worked against me. I know lots of teachers and they tell me that the 22 year olds get hired. From the looks of things, this is mostly true. So if you would be happy working as a sub, then go for it. Since I had subbed without the license, and then worked as a sub, I did feel a little cheated. You really have to know the market where you are. It helps to know people in the schools, although I had lots of “connections” none of them got me a job. Sorry, but I feel you need to make an informed decision.