Giving up on teaching?

Question

Another year of applying for multiple openings for teachers only to be ignored or have my experience discounted.

I have been substitute teaching mostly in elementary grades in several school districts. I have a good reputation and I am requested by many teachers for their classrooms when they are gone. I can't spend another year without benefits and better pay trying to prove my dedication to teaching.

My turning point was when an HR person made the statement that I was not considered for a position because they were concerned that I have too many years as a substitute teacher - the implication being that if I was any good, I would have been hired already. Several teachers with only student teaching who had just graduated were hired. Some of them haven't even passed the state required tests (they have up to two years after being hired). I have passed all of them. One has a mother that works as a teacher in the district.

Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Location, location, location....and without knowing where you are, let me ask if you would consider a change in location?

You key goal is to get a full-time position with benefits, right?

Since teaching credentials are specific to the State in which they are issued, it would be easiest to relocate within the same State as your credential. So, consider visiting the website of the State Dept of Employment and find out if they have data on the occupational outlook for teachers. This type of study often indicates job potential within the state.

If your state doesn't seem to have a shortage, then consider a visit to the US Dept of Labor website http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm to see what the national employment situation is like for elementary teachers. This should help you identify which states/counties may have a better possibility for you. Once you find some leads, get to the website of those State Dept of Education and get to the information on Teacher Credentialing (specifically to find out if they have reciprocity with your State AND if they have emergency credentialing / conditional or provisional credentialing)

States with extreme teacher shortages bend over backwards to get qualified people (esp fully credentialed teachers such as you). So, though you won't be fully credentialed in their State, they could grant you an emergency credential on the condition that you complete any required work to get fully credentialed in their State while you are teaching in the classroom.

Each State has their own policies and practices, and I cannot say for sure what your exact situation may be in terms of getting hired, terms of employment, salary, benefits, etc. You need to get that from the particular State and school district...which can vary somewhat even in the same State.

To overcome the HR comments and subtle implications, do you have letters from past teachers who were satisfied with your subbing work? If possible, build a file to document the grade level and the work/class assignments taught matched to the letters from the teachers.

Hope these ideas/comments help. I took me 10 years of part-timing and subbing in several districts before finally getting hired full time. If you truly love teaching, please don't give it up. Best wishes.

Answer 2

It is a tricky problem.

Usually no one is rejected from a job, but instead someone else is accepted in their place. I have the same problem with my resume. I have a huge amount of very diverse experience, so many employers pass me over for people with more exact experience.

So what can you do. Firstly you can try going to a new location, such as working in a small town or regional area where they are having trouble getting teachers.

You could try moving into another type of teaching. Many teachers from the school system take up different types of teaching in say adult education.

Alternatively you can keep trying. Eventually you will get a permanent job, for some people it just takes longer than others.

You could also take a break, spend a year teaching children in another country, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan all are desperate for qualified teachers (most of the teachers are not qualified and inexperienced) and other countries like the UK have schemese for recruiting overseas qualified teachers.

With that behind you, go back and see how things go or build up a career in another country.

Good luck. The worst thing that can happen to people looking for work is they give up.

Answer 3

Yikes, that is tough. I know that some subs will get hired by a principal that they have a good relationship with. It is important to kinda have an "in" with a particular school. Or, on the flip side, apply to districts that you have never subbed for before. I personally have seen many long term subs, and good subs, get hired for full time teaching jobs, but then again I worked for a huge urban school district that needs teachers badly! It seems obvious that you want to teach, and I think that you should try to hang in there. If you can, try to find a long term sub position at a school you would like to work for. And keep on doing what you are doing--getting requests from teachers. When a job opening comes up, ask for those teachers to write you a letter or rec. Plus, like you mentioned, many people get jobs through knowing the right people, like that teacher who had a mom that worked there. That kinda stuff happens more than you might think (my mom works in the district office of a school district and tells me about that kind of stuff). My best advice would be to hang in there, and broaden your search. Maybe there are other districts nearby that need teachers more than the ones you are applying to. Good luck, we need good teachers like you!!

Answer 4

Please, don't leave the profession. If you are an awesome sub, you will be an awesome teacher and the students of this country need you!

I would agree with the other poster that some districts want to not lose a really good, reliable sub so they don't get hired. I've heard more than one person in "the know" say that exact thing.

Stick to it. I'm in my third year teaching part-time. I wanted to get hired right after graduation and get going on my "real" job. However, I'm learning so many things in my current prep period teaching position. I'm thankful for having some days off and for all the knowledge I'm getting. I'm sure there is a divine plan for my life and I'll just have to wait and see what it is. Until then, I'm enjoying my current position and just glad I got a job in the educational system right after I graduated.

Good luck to you. Stick to it. The kids need you.

Answer 5

Do you live in a northern or southern state? I teach in a southern state and I hear that it is A LOT easier to get hired down here. In fact, there are teachers that have moved here from northern states because they couldn't get a job!
If you are willing to move I would complete an online resume. I don't remember the name of the online resume, but when you complete it principals from all over the US can read it. If they are interested they will contact you and you can visit the school and see if you want to teach at their school.

Answer 6

Get your MFA/ or MA and teach college. That's what I'm doing. Then go into the districts you'd be willing to teach and they'll fall all over you. A few of my high school teachers teach part-time at a college.


I'm a 2nd yr sub.

Answer 7

In the district I used to teach in, they were notorious for keeping good subs as subs! Maybe you are too good at subbing?

Is there anyone else you feel like you could ask about the situation? Like one of the principals in the buildings you sub in? the teachers you work with?

Good luck!

Answer 8

The one thing that came to mind was perhaps to ask those teachers that request you as a substitute, to write letters of reference for you. Another thought might be to ask a principal of a school you are working in to observe you and give feedback. He/she might also write a letter of reference if you ask. Most principals know a handful of other principals in nearby districts. If they observe you and are impressed, the word might get out as to your talents and availability. I hope something comes up for you soon.

Answer 9

It is time to leave that awful district you are in. I would get as many references as you can and start applying at other districts (without subbing there). Go to job fairs as well.

Answer 10

I hate that.
Keep trying - go to every teaching job fair and get your application into every district you can. Tell them you are a killer sub and are ready to make the kids have great achievements, and tell them how.