I agree that in some cases it seems pointless to just grab any
old endorsement just to get a teaching job. Not teaching
somthing you love and are passionate about can definately make
teaching seem more like a boring office job.
I suggested the teacher assistant option because you mentioned
that you wished to get a regular job as opposed to dealing the
uncertainty of subbing, and also wish to have only one job.
It is true that teacher assistant pay is not that great but you
are guaranteed to work every day and may actually get benefits.
Plus, you will be in a school system so administrators will get
to see you in action and possibily recommend you for a teaching
position down the line.
This may calm your worries about subbing for two many years.
However, I think with the job market the way it is, no
administrator would fault you for not being able to get a full
time teaching position for many years. Many high quality
teachers have to sub for several years before they get their
own classroom.
I would recommend that you try for a teacher assistant position
and do some subbing if that job is not forthcoming. Does your
husband have a full time job not that he has finished grad
school? If so maybe you won't be forced to have more than one
job anymore.
On 8/22/08, Aspiring Social Studies Teacher wrote:
> Thanks for the advice, MSR and Spedhead. I agree that it
> makes a lot of sense to continue working in schools, while
> working on adding another in-demand endorsement to my license.
> I have a couple of concerns/questions about these
> suggestions.
>
> First, since I've been subbing for three years already, I feel
> worried that if I continue to just add more years of subbing
> experience, it will be seen as a negative on my application. I
> suppose I haven't done any subbing in this area yet, though,
> since I just moved here, it is a little different.
>
> Does anyone have an opinion on whether subbing or working as
> an instructional assistant is a better way to get "in" at a
> school or district? One of the things I like least about
> subbing is that I really miss working with a group of
> co-workers and students I know really well. Because of that,
> I'm leaning towards looking for an instructional assistant
> position...
>
> How do you pick a school to try to work at? The other thing I
> feel is a downside of the subbing/IA approach is that you sort
> of just have to be really lucky. If you end up subbing or
> working at a school that just doesn't happen to have any
> social studies openings over the next couple of years, you are
> out of luck. I suppose if you get to know the administrator
> well enough, he or she might be willing to pick up the phone
> and recommend you at a nearby school, though....
>
> My concern about adding the extra endorsement is that I feel
> sort of philosophically opposed to applying to teach in an
> area that I don't feel passionate about. I became a social
> studies teacher because I LOVE it, and I would feel bad going
> into something like special education just for the ease of
> getting a job. All kids deserve teachers who are passionate
> about what they do, and I'm afraid I wouldn't feel as
> passionately about sped. Maybe I would though, after I got
> into it. :)
>
> Another question: would adding a language arts/English
> endorsement make me more marketable? Does anyone have a sense
> of whether teachers with endorsements in Social Studies and
> English have an easier time finding jobs than those with just
> one or the other?
>
> I appreciate the advice, and really hope to hear more!
>
>
> On 8/20/08, Aspiring Social Studies Teacher wrote:
>> It seems as if it is about too late to hold onto much hope
>> for finding the dream job this year, so I'm trying to stay
>> positive and focus on what I can do to prepare myself for
>> next spring and summer.
>>
>> I graduated in spring 2004 and did my student teaching in
>> middle and high school social studies (Minnesota) that fall.
>> I've been subbing in Oregon since then, for 3.5 years. (My
>> husband and I moved for his education.)
>>
>> Now that my husband is done with graduate school, I am
>> hoping to have more time to do things to strengthen my
>> application for the next school year. Over the past three
>> years, my main focus has been on subbing and working at my
>> other two jobs as much as possible, to pay the bills and get
>> us started off on the right track financially. I just
>> didn't have the time to do much else besides work. It has
>> been very difficult to sub/waitress/office temp this long,
>> but I'm trying to pump myself up for one more year
>> (hopefully only one). My goal is to have only one job and
>> have enough time to do other things to strengthen my
>> application.
>>
>> I'm thinking of volunteering and getting involved in
>> community organizations regarding my interests, which
>> include education (obviously!), history, social justice, and
>> politics. I'm wondering if the wise folks out there on this
>> message board have any advice as per the BEST way to spend
>> my time over the next year. I know that networking and
>> getting to know other teachers and administrators is
>> important, too, but I'm not sure what the best way to do
>> that is.
>>
>> My goal is to put myself in the best position possible and
>> "prepare for success."
>>
>> It is kind of cheesy, but my dad always has said "luck is
>> when preparation meets opportunity." That makes sense to
>> me... So now is the time to start preparing for next summer!
>>
>> Eagerly awaiting your advice!
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