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I am thinking about getting a cross cert in sp.ed., as I am
really tired of trying to find a job in my area of language
arts. This summer I have sent out over 20 applications, all
over the state, and got one interview. (I found that one
district actually throws out all applications after a
position is filled. After applying for one job that was
filled, only to find another similar position open up in the
same dist., I was told I would have to fill out their
lengthy application and send everything in from scratch.) I
am really tired of subbing, having done it all last year,
not to mention the year I did it when I was finishing up my
certification coursework. I did land teaching jobs in the
private sector, for 2 and a half years, but always planned
to go into public. Now I cannot find a job in public or
private! I am not just out of college and this is my second
career.

I have been told that sp.ed. is an area where teachers are
actually needed. I just looked up some info online and found
that an ARC program exists, but to the tune of approx.
$4500! I am not wealthy and cannot afford to pay out of
pocket, as I am still paying off student loans from the
Master's/certification program I entered when I decided to
teach. I have worked with special ed. students and found it
rewarding. I am just wondering if anyone knows of any
funding options, private or public grants, etc., that would
help me pay for this.

I am not ready to give up yet, but so frustrated at this
whole teaching situation. If I had known how expensive it
would be to get my credentials and how difficult it would be
to land a job, I probably would have opted to go into a
different field. Of course the state is no help, with its
system of putting us all into little boxes, from which we
cannot get out of w/o shelling out thousands of dollars for
"professional development." (I have talked to older teachers
who have been in the system for 20+ years, who basically
just went into sp.ed. b/c their admin asked them to, and
have no special credentials. My, how things have changed.)

Thanks for any input anyone can give me. Pretty soon, I will
be looking to go into another field, I suppose, as I just
cannot take this much longer.

Cheers!
CTteacher  

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