I'm gonna be a teacher! (someday)

[eryque]

A couple of weeks ago I was accepted to grad school again so I can get my M.S. in Secondary Ed. I started this program in 2000, but gave up after 3 classes because I'd run out of money. This year I decided to bite the bullet and take out more loans and finish the program. I've had good opportunities to do some teaching and I realized that I am absolutely, completely comfortable in front of a class. It was a very easy decision to dive back in, and I'm excited.

There's some downsides, of course. First is that my boss has suddenly decided to be a schmuck and won't let me leave work 90 minutes early on the days I have class. Classes start Monday, so I'm a little worried about this. He was much more agreeable when I first approached him about going back to school, so much that I even declined to apply for an on-campus job that would have included free tuition. I realized that I could work 25 hours a week for the same salary that I'd make for 40 hrs on campus. I had an in, so odds are good that I would have gotten the job. I'm sick of this job, so I won't feel a bit of remorse when I leave it, but it is a headache to have to find a part-time job with flexible hours right when school is starting.

The other downside is that I had a promising band project that I was hoping to get back into, but there's not going to be time for rehearsals, much less gigs.

But I've got a new student ID, new textbooks, one used textbook that cost $70, a College of St. Rose tshirt, and a plan to get my teaching certificate in three and a half semesters.

Sometimes the end of summer is a good thing...

[maxwidmer]

Great profession!!!

After taking for so many years, it is great to give back (at least, that is how I feel)

[John Harrison]

Congratulations, Eric!
I've never worked harder or enjoyed work as much as when I started teaching. Best of luck!

[dean]

You'll work your a** off and enjoy just about every minute of it! I'm in a position to finally "graduate" at the end of this year, and I there's very little of the past 35 years in the classroom to complain about.

The three-semester program is an excellent way to become credentialed - my daughter did the same at the U of Minnesota. Quick, intense, and efficient.

Best wishes to you - lot's of great years ahead for you!

Dean

[eryque]

Well, it's only 3 and a half semesters because I already have 9 credits out of the way. It might become 4 because there's one class I haven't been able to get into yet this Fall, and I'll already be trying to cram 2 classes and comprehensive exam in next summer.

Out of curiosity, do you guys think that it's easier to get a job by graduating in December or in May with everyone else? I'm thinking that if I graduate in December, there's a chance that I could find a job for the spring semester. If I graduate in May, I probably couldn't find a full-time job until class starts in the fall.

But thanks for the encouragement, guys! It just occurred to me that I can tell my boss that my last day is coming soon and to start substitute teaching. Might be a good way to make ends meet while I'm in school.

[John Harrison]

Out here, with all the early retirements due to the attacks on our retirement benefits (PERS), I'd say there might be some mid-year job openings. Maternity leaves might open up some other possibilities. Otherwise, you're most likely to see the bulk of openings occuring between late spring and the beginning of school.

I'd suggest you contact some schools and/or school districts, where you'd like to work, and let the administrators know when you'll be available. It would also be a good idea to ask what curricular areas or areas of specialty or certification are most needed (e.g., reading endorsements, special ed, bi-lingual ed, etc.). Also, keep you eyes peeled on education employment websites, district employment websites, and your college's employment center.

Some of the best ways to get known are to substitute, coach, work as an educational assistant, or even volunteer. If you're doing an internship, make sure you're well known to the principal, the assistant principal, and the office staff (they're excellent conduits for any info in the pipeline). One final suggestion is to try to attend curricular meetings or in-service opportunities (teacher trainings), to get you're name out there.

[Robin Nahum]

I wish you well with your studies.

Regards

Robin

[Ben Harmless]

That's great to hear Eryque!

What is it you're doing now? I had the impression that you were teaching already (maybe at a different level), but I may have been mistaken.

HVCC is always accepting applications for adjunct instructors and they're pretty decent about considering experience in lieu of a degree. Check out the human resources page. I was actually going to go out for the head of cultural affairs this year, but I'm throwing myself into my on studies so much, I may just subside on income from doing sound and some shiny new loans.

[eryque]

Ben, right now I do end-user software support for a textbook publisher, which means telephone calls from mostly computer-illiterate teachers and students that waited until the last minute to install their software and are now very belligerant and ungrateful. The other crowd I help is the people that buy Chilton's do-it-yourself manuals on CD. Nearly every one of them is from south of the Mason-Dixon, and nearly every one of them should have been whupped harder when they were young to teach them some manners. It's a burn-out job, and I'm beyond burnt out. I won't be at all upset if I wind up leaving the job next week. I'll worry a little about the bills, but I really won't be disappointed at all.

The only real teaching I've done has been with the Civil Air Patrol as the Search and Rescue training officer. It's been great experience, though, I have to do everything from come up with the training materials, to set up lectures, hands-on activities, remedial training... everything. And I've had to do this for learners from age 12-80.

And John, I have to say that the music program you've been doing is really inspiring to me. I've read a lot about how hard it can be to do really fun and creative things, particularly with administrators that aren't educators and older teachers that are stuck in their ways, all those pictures of kids having fun with guitars that they got from their schools is a great reminder that you can do good things.

[bri]

for 36 years. If you get into the right age level of clientele (kids), you'll love it. You might even get to use some of your guitar pickin' skills with your kids. I wish you luck with what can be a very rewarding career.
Brian