Re: thinking about getting cross-cert in sped

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I completed a teacher certification program while an undergraduate.
I originally was a math-ed major, but could not do student teaching
as I became Naval Aviation cadet. (I was "npq'd but did make it to
the airlines, albeit briefly :)) , so I had to switch majors to
plain math. And I agree with you NY does not allow one to get in if
they have over 18 credits in ed courses (I had 19- and I am from
Manhattan!).

I did get a job last year, but not this year (yet). The school that
I subbed for in N. Central CT didn't even interview me! And as far
as the inner cities, I can only conclude that the suburbs are more
selective (as they can, and should be). With all due respects to
ARC, I spent many hours writing reports in Ed Psych, Child
Growth/Development classes, etc. That 5 papge philosophy paper that
ARC requires in the beginning is a joke compared to what we went
through. In addition, most colleges require you to have mojored in
the sunbject you want to teach, unlike ARC which requires 30
credits "in a closely related field" and that whopping total of
three credits in calc). It was 48 credits for me in math. The M.S.
that I just started at L.I.U. requires a three course sequence in
Calc, in addition to diffy-Q's to get in.

I'm still going ahead with my plans to teach college math. My
sister and bro-in-law are both professors, and have never been laid-
off (although my sister is a part time stats professor now). Good
luck

On 8/30/09, Anonymous wrote:
> When did you graduate ARC? I am hearing that except for this
> year's group, most of the math people actually got jobs in the
> end (though often in the inner cities, but that's true about a
> lot of alternate route programs....it's all supply vs. demand).
>
> I am not sure you can enter ARC if you've already done a
> certification program. Most other states' similar programs (i.e.
> NYC Teaching Fellows) will not let you in. I think unlike most
> of these programs ARC will, I know there were a lot of private
> school teachers and L/T subs in my class, though the people who
> were truly "career changing" resented those people thinking they
> will keep them from getting a job (one reason most programs do
> not allow this).
>
> Also, I'm not sure ARC has a Special Ed program per se.
>
> Finally, I would be careful about going for college teaching.
> Nowadays, a lot of colleges are looking to cut costs by hiring a
> lot of P/T faculty and either not hiring F/T faculty or not
> offering tenure ever to any new F/T faculty. My sister became a
> professor in the late 90's and was tenured a few years ago and
> was told if she was entering this job today she wouldn't have
> anywhere near the security l/t professors enjoy. Good luck!
>
>
>
> On 8/26/09, Math Teach wrote:
>> I hear you. Oh do I hear you! I was a math major, and thought
>> it would be easier to get a job. Seems that everyone is
>> choosing math, as it is a shortage area (in the inner cities,
>> that is). I'm getting my M.S. in applied math, and am
>> starting to look into teaching at junior colleges when I'm
>> done. I worked last year as a .6FTE, and it looks like I'll
>> be subbing this year.
>>
>> I too am a graduate of ARC, and basically found it to be a
>> waste of time. Most of the $4000 went to pay for the guest
>> faculty, with many giving enlightening lectures such
>> as "Teaching in the inner cities is different than teaching
>> in the suburbs'
>> Yeah, no sh*t, Sherlock!
>>
>> Why not get a graduate degree and think about teaching in a
>> college? You would have to get one anyway (I already have an
>> M.S. but it's not in math) :(
>>
>> On 8/26/09, CTteacher wrote:
>>> 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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