So talk to me about people who become teachers as a second career. How do they get there? Do they go back to school? Is it hard to do?
I'm just exploring options. One thing I think I'd love to do is teach history, social studies, etc. I have 2 BAs (history and poli sci) and a law degree. I'm really only interested in high school and those related subjects. I know pay is low and work is hard but other than that am I being completely unrealistic thinking of this of a viable future option?
Post by expectantsteelerfan on Jul 8, 2015 7:35:41 GMT -5
It would depend on your state and what they require of teachers. In PA you have to pass the Praxis exams to get certified as a teacher. There are 2 levels of exams, including general knowledge, teaching theory and pedagogy, and then content-specific. You could probably pass the exams and get certified without going back to school, but you'd need to do some independent study on the teaching theory stuff I guess. I have a friend who just tried to join Teach for America with plans to take the exams to get certified in NJ, but she was rejected from TFA.
Here in NYC there is a program called Teaching Fellows that allows people with previous careers to transition into the classroom before becoming fully certified. They have to take education classes as they teach and I think a large part of the cost is subsidized by the district. It is pretty time intensive though and usually only for high needs schools and subject areas (math, science, special ed). You might see if your area has a similar program. I think TFA is for people fresh out of college.
Or you could go back to school to complete the education course work and then take the certification exams. I had a student teacher who was taking the necessary courses online.
Go to your state's dept of ed website, all the info should be there. Teaching is my second career, and I went back to school. It took me 1.5 years of class and a semester of student teaching.
I can't imagine teaching just by passing the Praxis. Which we don't even use in MN anymore, we created our own tests. That would leave the average person woefully underprepared.
Go to your state's dept of ed website, all the info should be there. Teaching is my second career, and I went back to school. It took me 1.5 years of class and a semester of student teaching.
I can't imagine teaching just by passing the Praxis. Which we don't even use in MN anymore, we created our own tests. That would leave the average person woefully underprepared.
Right? There is only so much you can do to prepare for teaching. I feel like there are so many things you can't learn about from a book or a professor but I still can't imagine not taking any classes before teaching. What about pedagogy and methods classes? As a parent I would not want to live in a state that only required teachers to pass a test.
Go to your state's dept of ed website, all the info should be there. Teaching is my second career, and I went back to school. It took me 1.5 years of class and a semester of student teaching.
I can't imagine teaching just by passing the Praxis. Which we don't even use in MN anymore, we created our own tests. That would leave the average person woefully underprepared.
Right? There is only so much you can do to prepare for teaching. I feel like there are so many things you can't learn about from a book or a professor but I still can't imagine not taking any classes before teaching. What about pedagogy and methods classes? As a parent I would not want to live in a state that only required teachers to pass a test.
It's not even the content or pedagogy, but I think management classes are super important.
Yea I feel like going back to school is a requirement for me to feel prepared but I already owe soooo much money for law school....
If you teach in a Title I school for 5 years, there is a federal program that will pay off $5,000 of your student loans (for History, ENG, etc.). I think high-needs subjects and Special Ed get about $18,000. I think the most beneficial part of going back to school is the student teaching experience. Assuming you are paired with someone who knows what he/she is doing.
Yea I feel like going back to school is a requirement for me to feel prepared but I already owe soooo much money for law school....
If you teach in a Title I school for 5 years, there is a federal program that will pay off $5,000 of your student loans (for History, ENG, etc.). I think high-needs subjects and Special Ed get about $18,000. I think the most beneficial part of going back to school is the student teaching experience. Assuming you are paired with someone who knows what he/she is doing.
There is also Public Service Employee Loan forgiveness. Which forgives everything after teaching/working for 10 years paying under an income-based payment plan.
If you teach in a Title I school for 5 years, there is a federal program that will pay off $5,000 of your student loans (for History, ENG, etc.). I think high-needs subjects and Special Ed get about $18,000. I think the most beneficial part of going back to school is the student teaching experience. Assuming you are paired with someone who knows what he/she is doing.
There is also Public Service Employee Loan forgiveness. Which forgives everything after teaching/working for 10 years paying under an income-based payment plan.
Hmmm true. I'm counting on that if I stay in law. I wonder if they'd forgive my law school debt if I was a teacher or just the debt related to teaching.
There is also Public Service Employee Loan forgiveness. Which forgives everything after teaching/working for 10 years paying under an income-based payment plan.
Hmmm true. I'm counting on that if I stay in law. I wonder if they'd forgive my law school debt if I was a teacher or just the debt related to teaching.
It's all loans. My loans from my music degree are consolidated into the same loan as my teaching stuff, so when I hit 10 years it's all gone. And the payments do not have to be consecutive, just total.
Hmmm true. I'm counting on that if I stay in law. I wonder if they'd forgive my law school debt if I was a teacher or just the debt related to teaching.
It's all loans. My loans from my music degree are consolidated into the same loan as my teaching stuff, so when I hit 10 years it's all gone. And the payments do not have to be consecutive, just total.
Well that's good to know! DH is understandable concerned about the $$$ aspect of me switching careers given how much law school debt we both have.
Thanks for posting this nowa. I have often thought about a second career option down the road. I'm in your field so I totally get where you're coming from and I haven't ruled out another path for myself at another time.
It's all loans. My loans from my music degree are consolidated into the same loan as my teaching stuff, so when I hit 10 years it's all gone. And the payments do not have to be consecutive, just total.
Well that's good to know! DH is understandable concerned about the $$$ aspect of me switching careers given how much law school debt we both have.
I'm not sure though, what happens if you add more loans to your 10-year payoff, if that makes sense.
My mom did this. When I was in Jr High school she decided to become a teacher. I think it took her about 2 years before she was actually certified and ready to teach. But she took the CBEST and got her sub certificate so while she was going to school she started subbing to get a feel for the classroom. She was in banking until I was born (I'm the youngest) and then she was a SAHM until I was 13. She ended up teaching K for 20 years and recently retired
My mom did this. When I was in Jr High school she decided to become a teacher. I think it took her about 2 years before she was actually certified and ready to teach. But she took the CBEST and got her sub certificate so while she was going to school she started subbing to get a feel for the classroom. She was in banking until I was born (I'm the youngest) and then she was a SAHM until I was 13. She ended up teaching K for 20 years and recently retired
Thanks for this story!! I'm doing a lot of soul searching about having more kids, going back to work, sticking with my career or doing something different etc etc.
I don't think it's a common tract, but many do it. Dd1's kindergarten teacher was an episcopal priest and back to school to teach! He did that in his mid thirties, I'd say, and he was fantastic.
Another thought that wouldn't require a more schooling is teaching at the community college level. I know it's not high school but it's not the sane as teaching at a 4 year school either.
Is it possible to work part time as a lawyer? I'm just asking because at my friends dad's firm there are a few women who had children and now work 3 days a week. But I know at my sisters firm in NYC that is not possible.
Is it possible to work part time as a lawyer? I'm just asking because at my friends dad's firm there are a few women who had children and now work 3 days a week. But I know at my sisters firm in NYC that is not possible.
It's really really hard / impossible to find part time work. And if you can work it out somehow, it's often not truly part time. People end up working a lot at home, nights, weekends. And deadlines/courts don't care if you work part time. If you can strike out on your own or do contract work, it's possible, but still really hard.
Post by rosesandpetals on Jul 8, 2015 15:05:37 GMT -5
I didn't read all the replies. In my state, you need a master's degree to teach. (A bachelor's is only good for a couple years and then your license expires.) There are 2 master's degrees: Master's of Education and Master's of Teaching. And M.Ed is what someone with an undergrad degree in education gets (they have already had the classes and done student teaching). An MAT is what someone without a teaching background gets. It has the pedagogy, methods, and student teaching classes.
You can get an MAT in a year. There are online programs that allow you to do the classwork on line at home and then they coordinate a student teaching placement for you. My friend did this and I was really surprised by how cheap it was. There are also lots of state schools that have MAT programs.
Indiana has an insanely easy path to teaching. If you have a bachelors, you can take a class over the summer and be licensed to teach by the fall. I'm not in Indiana but I seriously, seriously side eye the quality of teachers that must create. I learned SO much from my time in a classroom with a qualified teacher guiding me during PCE, methods, and student teaching. I can't imagine just being thrown to the wolves.
My BIL has decided to teach after being in the law field for a few years. His bachelors is in English so he is going to be teaching High school English this fall. It seemed like a simple process to get his temporary license. They live in FL and he will have a temporary certificate for 2 years and must meet the requirements for a permanent license in that time frame. I am not sure what those requirements are but he doesn't have to have to teaching degree.
Post by thecheshirekat on Jul 9, 2015 15:16:19 GMT -5
The requirements and the process are going to vary significantly from state to state. I was a teacher as a second career - I initially spent about five years working in the entertainment industry before deciding to teach - and at the time the big district in the area offered the "District Intern Program," which was a zero-cost credentialing program that gave you sort of a six week crash course in the basics and then had you take the district-run credential classes after school while you were a full-time teacher. At the end of the program, you got your clear credential. It was awesome. They only offered it in high-need areas (generally secondary level English, math, science, and special education). I loved that it gave me the opportunity to try what I was learning in my classroom right away.
Is it possible to work part time as a lawyer? I'm just asking because at my friends dad's firm there are a few women who had children and now work 3 days a week. But I know at my sisters firm in NYC that is not possible.
It's really really hard / impossible to find part time work. And if you can work it out somehow, it's often not truly part time. People end up working a lot at home, nights, weekends. And deadlines/courts don't care if you work part time. If you can strike out on your own or do contract work, it's possible, but still really hard.
A good friend of mine who is a lawyer now works as counsel and strategic advisor for a non profit that works with teachers to improve their effectiveness. She works full time but it's strictly 9 to 5. I guess if I were you I'd try and get creative with my law degree before switching careers that required going back to school.