How do I career-change into teaching?

Question

I'm looking for advice from a seasoned teacher or educational administrator. I am trying to career change from accounting (no, I'm not a CPA or anything) to teaching. Teaching has always been my goal, but frankly I was side-tracked by the money offered me as an accountant. Now I have the ability to take the lower pay into order to do the work that I love. Right now I am working part-time as an accountant and part-time as an afterschool teacher for troubled kids (kicked out of other afterschool programs). But what I really want is a full-time teaching job in a middle school as a Reading/Language Arts teacher. I am licensed as a secondary English teacher and as a Reading teacher for all levels. But I have almost no contacts in education circles. Can anyone give me adivce on how to get myself and my C.V. noticed?

Thanks so much for your time!

J

I am certified as a High School English teacher and as a Reading Teacher (K - 12). I'm not interested in a higher education position (yet!). I just wanna teacher. (Pardon my poor grammar)

Any information specific to the Chicago Public School system would be especially appreciated! Thanks!

Answer 1

Talk to your local schools. If you are willing to do some voluntary work, it will help your CV. The local schools will also be able to tell you what they tend to look for (qualifications, experience and personal qualities) when they recruit.

Answer 2

What you are talking about is called "lateral entry." It is when people from other careers are considered "highly qualified" by the state and are allowed to teach until they are certified. In North Carolina they require that you have a Bachelor's degree and pass the state PRAXIS II requirements. They then give you 3 years to get certified. It is usually about 15 to 18 credits to get a clear license. Texas probably isn't much different because Arizona and Nevada have similiar requirements to NC. It seems the states with the population booms like NC, AZ, TX and NV rely heavily on lateral entry teachers. Mostly lateral entry teachers are needed for Special Education, Math, or Science. Go to the local school systems homepage. They will have a lateral entry section on the emplyment page if they do this.My question for you, do you know the type of paycut you will take? All the corporate trainers I know make between 60 and 100K. I want to get out of teaching and go into corporate training. Want to trade?lol

Answer 3

Depends on your state, or the state you want to work. Many states have reciprocity later. Most require the bachelor's degree, and a master's after a certain amount of time and most have a test. Math and ELA teachers that are certified are hard to come by- you should have little trouble once certified especially given your passion for wanting to help kids. Good Luck!

Answer 4

First you get a teaching certification from the state in which you intend to teach i.e.. K-12.

If you want to teach on the University level you will need at least a Masters degree in your specialization. Even then you would only be able to fill an adjunct position. If you want something leading to tenure you will have to either have a PhD or be in the process of earning one.

Answer 5

If you have a bachelor's degree, in some states you can teach as you earn your alternative certification. In Texas, large districts provide the training for alternative certification. It takes two years, but you are able to teach almost immediately. A website below provides an online alternative certification program for Texas.

Answer 6

one of the "new" teachers at my school was an accountant in his "former life", as we say.

if you have your secondary English credential, you do need to brush up your resume (or c.v., as you called it), but what is most important is that you write an awesome cover letter, specific for each district to which you are applying, and addressed to their personnel director, sometimes called asst. superintendent of personnel.

also, get online and start looking at applications. many school district have these available online on their own websites. I'd also search online for teacher recruitment fairs in your area, that way you can meet representatives from many different districts and school without driving for miles and miles.

good luck, and i hope you truly enjoy your new profession!

Answer 7

Join the Air Force! Get you teacher qualified, at the same time
enjoy good pay, 30 day leave with pay per year, yearly pay raises,
full dental/medical benefits, travel and see the world!

All kinds of educational opportunities and courses!