Getty Images
Of the 3,380,300 part-time and full-time teachers in the United States in the 2007-2008 school year, only 8% left the profession the following year. Careers in education can be stable, satisfying, and dynamic, year in and year out. New challenges are offered every year with new classes of students and ever-evolving curriculum and methodology. For teachers, new and old, the ability to adapt to the education field and grow familiar with the education system is paramount. Here are six tips for being competent, successful, and career-oriented in the field of education.
Get a (Higher) Degree
New trends within education in the United States indicate that the premium placed upon teaching candidates with a higher level degree, masters or above, is actually becoming a prerequisite. As of 2012, 52% of public school teachers in the United States possess at least a master's degree. Regardless of your chosen field, a master's degree is becoming a key tool for teachers. A career-oriented educator will be denied opportunities for promotion as a teacher if they lack a master's credential. Additionally, a teacher looking to move into an administrative position will in most situations be required to have at least a master's in education. Finally, if you are just now beginning a career in education, a master's degree will eliminate many unnecessary prerequisites during your application process with a state's Department of Education and within a specific school district. Invest in a master's degree, during your college years or through night classes. An advanced degree will not only streamline your career in education, but will better equip you as a teacher.
Get Certified
Different Departments of Education require different typses of certifications and proofs of experience. As a teacher, acquiring as many certificates as you can will limit complications in procedural matters should you transfer school districts between state lines. In addition, certificates will boost your resume, both for initial applications and for promotion opportunities. You can diversify your skill set by becoming certified in areas such as teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) and Special Education (SPED). Multiple certifications of these kinds will only make you a more attractive prospective employee and promotion candidate. The education system values certifications; do not fall into the trap of assuming your experience and abilities will exempt you from the need for certification. When an opportunity for a training or workshop presents itself and you can become certified in a new area, show initiative and apply for the certification.
Choose Your School District with Care
Education is governed according to state legislature. Each state treats teachers transferring from other states in different ways. Depending on the state, the process can be difficult or easy and may impact your salary. Each state also requires teachers to become certified through their own particular teacher certification process. When you initially apply for your first teacher's certification, be exceptionally aware of the advantages and disadvantages of being a teacher in a given state and school district. In the 2007-2008 school year, 84.5% of all public school teachers remained at the same school. Additionally, only 7.6% of all teachers moved to a new school. This data would suggest that a career in education is not a particularly mobile career. When you are applying to teaching positions, be sure to think about your long term plans and goals.
Planning and Preparation
For outsiders of education, the amount of planning and preparation a career teacher goes through on a daily and yearly basis may not be apparent. Teaching requires meticulous lesson plans, unit plans, and curriculum development. If you're looking at a potential career in education, you need to prepare to invest time in the planning process. Students attend nearly the same number of classes that teachers teach; they can sense a teacher who is attempting to "wing it" and will respond negatively. Take the time to plan out every lesson, every unit, and every year. Finally, an extremely useful tip for all teachers is to prepare "plug-in" lesson plans; lesson plans that can be implemented on the spot in case of unforeseen disruptions in the class room. Having a back-pocket activity and lesson can save a teacher from being caught unprepared.
Take Your Work Home with You
Classes may end with the ring of a bell but the work of a teacher rarely stops with such a convenient reminder. Teachers, inevitably, will have papers to grade, lessons to plan, and paperwork to fill out after they've left school and have gone home. Trying to run from the need of working at home will only create stress for you. The alternative is to embrace taking you work home with you and use it as an effective tool to manage your work load. Including time at home for the variable daily requirements of a teacher into your regular routine will help you prepare and manage both your work load and your time.
Find Joy in Your Students
The last tip for prospective teachers and other careers in education is to find the joy in educating young minds. If there's no joy for you in teaching your own students, you will become worn of your work. Careers in education require a level of commitment that goes beyond the "nine to five." The victories of your pupils are your victories as well. The growth of your students over the course of a year is the testimony, the mile-marker, and the validation of your occupation. Take time to celebrate and enjoy the most dynamic aspect of your job: your students.
Whether you aspire to being a teacher or an administrator, in public schools or private, and teach math or English, a career in education can reward you every day and every year. Be deliberate in equipping yourself with degrees and certifications and plan your career carefully. Begin your career by employing exhaustive planning and meticulous work habits. Finally, find your joy in equipping a younger generation with a blueprint for their success.
