I have a Bachelors degree in Politics and History and my TESOL Certificate. I am currently getting my Montessori AMI teaching license and Masters in Montessori Education (3-6 year olds). I will also be getting my State teaching license in several subjects ( Elementary K-6, Prekindergarten/ Primary age 3 through grade 3, and Preschool Education birth through age 4 ). I have been an assistant teacher for 3 years (so four by the 2019 - 2020 school year)
A Timeline (to make it easier to understand)
Montessori AMI License - July 2019 (by this time I would have taken 27 credits towards my masters degree including Courses in Mathematics , Language, Social Studies, and Physical and Biological Sciences Curriculum and instructions. I would have also have have done approximately 3 weeks (90+ Hours) of Observation and 4 weeks of student teaching.)
Florida Teaching Licenses - August / September 2019
Masters in Montessori Education - August 2020
My first question is regarding requirements. It says on the website " A major in early childhood education (ECE) or a degree in elementary education with 24 SH in ECE is required." Will the progress in my master degree count as this or will the Florida license meet those when I finish getting it.
My second question is should I take the praxis exams (which I don't mind doing) to have a chance for 2019 - 2020 school year? Since I won't have my florida state license before the start of the school.
My third question is regarding my masters is in Montessori education - is it worth to get a Masters in just Education? To me it doesn't seem worth it but if it helps me get a job with DODEA I would do it.
And lastly does the above even matter since I will be applying as a new teacher? How likely is it for new teachers to get hired during their first year applying and teaching?
Sorry for the long post any help would be greatly appreciated! Or is there an email or phone I can call to speak to someone regarding this? Thanks guys!
Going back to your first question, the key is the number of credits required (and any specific methods classes listed). If you will have the 24 credits and any specific classes) then it will not matter about the finished degree to be considered qualified.
As for the Praxis, I do not believe you would be exempt since you would not have the state license. Taking them would probably be a fine idea if you want to be considered qualified as early as possible.
Having a Masters in Education might be helpful since DoDEA has not great interest in anything Montessori, but I don't think it would really make that huge a difference (an ES principal may have a different opinion, but I don't really think so). Making sure you will be considered qualified in Pre-K, K and ES would likely be more helpful for you.
For those of you grtting rrady to move for the fall congratulations!! I did have one question has there been any official word on jist how much taxes on the move you will be paying?
HelpOthersAny time a debt collection is pulled by DFAS from your check, they keep it to 15% of your available income or something like that. I do not even think it includes the part of your income that pays for your housing, etc.
I suppose I have a few questions since I am not familiar with DoDEA in the Pacific region.
1. If I were offered the position would they also allow my fiancee to come over with me(if we tied the knot earlier than was planned, and he was then my Husband)?
2. Would this be included in our housing?
3. How have other teachers liked the Atsugi Naval base?
4.What is the teaching climate there?
5. Does anyone help you find your off base living quarters? [[[In Europe that was not a big deal for me because I speak multiple other languages (of European decent but no Japanese).]]]
6. How long does a teaching tour typically last (I assume a year as usual) --. 7. Is there any help for how to set up medical and dental?
8. What is the public transit like, and is it advised to bring my car overseas or sell it?
9. The base is actually not in actual Atsugi (or so Wikipedia says), so is Kawasaki the nearest larger city to find apartments to rent in? Rather perhaps the question rephrased is what city to people typically live in when stationed at this base. [I am aware from my own history that teachers live off base]
10. Do people live in Tokyo and drive into Atsugi or typically just live nearer to the base?
11. Are we allowed to shop at the base Commissary or PX?
I apologize for all of the questions, and I suppose I do not expect someone to have all the answers, but I figure if I am going to ask questions on the internet I might as well put them all out there, someone might know the answer to one or some of them?!
Like Haha said above...See MoreHi, I lived on the German bases as a child and was a product of DoDEA schools (and I was just given an offer for a teaching position in Japan *AHHHH* stoked).
The base I mostly grew up on (attended all three schools during three different moves, ES, MS, HS ) was Heidelberg but unfortunately this closed down.
Like Haha said above it really does make a difference where you are in location. Places in the Bavarian state like Garmisch may be more rural, where as Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate is more city based. Similarly Stuttgart in Baden-Wurttemberg is also a heavily populated area. This also means that cost of living is different, and what you get for your money is different. You may be able to get something bigger but then live further from the base etc.
Now I loved the bases in Germany (partially because I am half German and biased) but also because I was close to the economy and I loved going off base and being in the local area, local food, shops, festivities. Germany has lots of interesting things to see, castles and old churches many historical sites, wonderful Christmas markets, all four seasons (summers can be a bit humid), Fasching (like Halloween meets Mardi Gras) and lots of local fests (or festivals).
The bases themselves are pretty typical. They have the basic things you would think of. Some people prefer smaller bases and some prefer bigger I suppose it depends on your preference. Usually you live off base but the roads are easy to drive since Germans have very strict driving rules and most Germans will at least have basic English under their belt, and if you try, they will usually switch to English to help you! Also the Germans have really good public transit. I loved living in Germany and taking the Straßenbahn (local trolley type of train) from one side of town to the other, cheap, easy and always punctual!
Hope this helps. If you let us know where I may have some information of the base you are going!
For pay purposes, when do you get the pay raise for a change in ed levels? For example if I get additional credits to be masters plus 30 rather 15, when do you get that pay increase? Is it at the start of the next school year? Or when you submit your updated transcripts?
IdaCorrect to both. The form is internal and you can do it whenever you finish the credit. If you know at time of hire send in the transcripts but if you are like once class short, you can do it as soon as you take it.
HelpOthersThere is a possibility if you go to a location where students with more severe needs are served that the school would benefit from these skills, but not sure if they would ask you to provide them as a special education teacher or as a PE teacher. Either way, your pay would be the same and if you can get PE certified... who knows?
EvelynThanks, haha and Mary. I definitely see how it could make me an asset in certain settings, but otherwise, not very useful. I think I'll look into other areas to add on.
My HOR will be Washington, but we rent here. We don't have any family in this state. Should I pay for a local mailbox in order to keep a local address? I'm thinking for driver's license, tax (no state income tax though), voting, etc. purposes.
hahaYes, and check whether a PO Box would actually do what you want it to do in Washington. In FL for example a PO Box is not acceptable and you need to show bills, voter registration, etc. to renew your Driver's License, etc.
Do you have any friends you could prevail upon to at least let you get mail there?
Therefore I want to share what my communication process has been like thus far - both to help others and hopefully get some comparisons/advice/reassurance in return.
My timeline thus far:
No referral notification.
Interview request: May 28
Interview: May 31
References (2/4) contacted for additional evals: June 4
Tentative offer (& docs) received: June 18
Email Qs sent to HR re: benefits such as LQA & PCS authorization from Germany: June 18
In-processing docs returned: June 19
HR sent link to benefit descriptions & confirmed relocation authorization from Germany (not US): June 20
Noticed EAS account marked as "inactive": June 20
HR sent confirmation that all in-processing paperwork had been received: June 21
Received email notice of referral for this job???: June 21
E-QIP received, completed, & submitted: June 22
Email Qs sent to HR re: fingerprints, passports, & additional paperwork: June 25
All of my professional references we...See MoreFirst of all, Mary is indeed correct; You should discuss your interest with the collegues you choose, and ask for them to watch for the emailed evals. Your EAS account is not considered complete without them, so you won't ever be referred for an interview without those evals having been submitted first.
All of my professional references were at my current job as well, and they most definitely contacted them before making any decisions on who would get the job. I agree that this makes things a bit awkward...but I am fortunate to work at an international school, where most teachers only stay a few years, and a request for references is somewhat expected.
My account went inactive on July be 4th. I called the next day to ask why and they said just to wait. It's now been over two weeks and I haven't received any updates or any other referrals. I'm currently in Europe on vacation but should I call back when I return? I don't want to be out the running for this school year.