Four years ago I embarked on a mission to fulfill a long-held dream - to become a social studies teacher on long island, new york. I am 43 years old and have been a successful retail manager for over 20 years. With the support of friends and family I finally left my full-time position in order to fulfill the state's student-teaching requirement. Despite the finanacial hardships this created, I fell in love with teaching immediately and my cooperating teachers told me I was perfect for the job. My grades were excellent and my observations were great, the students loved me and I them. It seemed that I was destined to fufill my goal.

That was back in the spring of 1996 and since then I've returned to retail mgmt. In order to support my wife and two children and try to substitute on days off when possible. Although highly discouraged I continue to pursue because I enjoy teaching and truly believe I could become an excellent teacher if given the chance. How does someone like me do it? I was always led to believe that I would be successful, I believed that my education, experience, maturity, and passion were wanted and needed in the classroom, yet I barely even get an interview!!! I've met so many great teachers, yet I've also met disgusted ones who seemed to hate their jobs. I want to be one of those great teachers! I refuse to believe I am too old! is it not possible unless you have connections!!! I am unlike most of the competition, yet no one seems to notice. if schools are really sincere about improvong education they need to get more people who really want to teach an who want to work with kids I would really value some opinions!!!

alan, soupdzur@aol.com,
3/04/00

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