Job Discussion Forums

[Mexicobound]

[johnslat]

Dear Mexicobound,


" . . . . but many community colleges and 2 years will hire those with Master's degrees."

Speaking as an MA holder (with over thirty years experience teaching) currently working at a community college, I would add, however, that the prospects of getting hired FULL-TIME are somewhere between slim and none, inclining heavily towards none.

Also, private schools in the States may or may not require certification:

"Do you have to be certified to teach in a private school?

It depends on the school's policies as a rule. Generally a school will make it very clear if certification is required in the first instance. Often a school will hire you provisionally if it feels you can meet the state certification eligibility requirements within a reasonable length of time. In the long run you will be well-advised to get certified. Most states will require evidence of a bachelor's degree and a background check before approving a teacher hire in a private school. But, apart from that minimum requirement, most state education authorities take a hands off approach. The bottom line is that private schools can hire whoever they wish.

What a private school is really looking for are teachers who can teach. Research has shown that good teachers are professionals blessed with superb verbal abilities. Put another way, they know how to communicate their subject extremely well. That has little or nothing to do with certification.

Coming in right behind superb verbal abilities is experience. A private school principal will value these two attributes far more than he will mere teacher training or education courses."

http://privateschool.about.com/cs/employment/a/certification.htm

Regards,
John

[Mexicobound]

[Mexicobound]

Here is some interesting info from the article John posted about teaching in private schools:

A degree in your subject is important.

You have to know your subject. Most upper schools will value strong tertiary level credentials highly. A master's or a doctorate in your subject is an excellent door-opener. The ability to teach Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate level courses is also another big advantage. In academia, a bachelor's degree is only the first step in your educational journey. Go for the doctorate while you can! Possessing that terminal degree puts you in an elite group of educators who have worked extremely hard to earn that degree.

Offer specialist certification.

Special education, guidance counseling, curriculum development, vocational education, media specialist - these are specialist areas which are much in demand. While not in the same league with a terminal or a master's degree, subject certification shows that you have explored methodology and current practice in your area in some depth. Assuming you keep up those certificates updated, you will contribute much of value to your chosen academic community.

Demonstrate that you have integrated technology into your teaching.

Using a tablet PC and an electronic whiteboard effectively are essential skills in the classroom these days. Communicating via email and instant messaging are givens. Private schools have been in the vanguard of educational technology since the mid-'90's. Understanding how to use technology effectively in your teaching is not something certification has even begun to address and measure.

Offer teaching experience.

If you have taught for 3-5 years, then you have worked out most of the kinks. You understand classroom management. You have figured out how to truly teach your subject. You can connect with your students. You have learned how to communicate with the parents. Experience counts far more than certification as a rule.

Taken from:
http://privateschool.about.com/cs/employment/a/certification.htm

[spiral78]

If you have taught for 3-5 years, then you have worked out most of the kinks. You understand classroom management. You have figured out how to truly teach your subject. You can connect with your students.

Hmmm. I wish this were always true! Quite a few of the worst teachers I've worked with had many years of experience, in some non-competitive teaching context, obviously.

I recall those two retired grade three teachers who crashed and burned after several (excrutiating) years trying to teach language to adults...and several CELTA-qualified teachers who felt that gaining the CELTA was enough for life, froze their ideas, and never grew into anything at all, as teachers...We've just ended a contract for a teacher who has been teaching for 15+ years - 4 of them here - and was simply unsuccessful. Oh, yeah, and the MA in English (not teaching or language - but she was a grammar goddess and never let anyone forget it for a single moment) and the Phd in German Lit who was a 90% disaster....

Good basic quals are invaluable, and ongoing professional development vital.

[johnslat]

Dear spiral78,
True, there are always going to be exceptions. But at least the first few years does tend to weed out a fair number who should really be doing something else.
Regards,
John

[Mexicobound]