Hello Everyone! Please help! I am conducting a survey for current and former special education teachers to complete my MA in special education. Please take 5 minutes to fill out this short survey-your input is valuable! Thank you in advance:) [link removed]
I will be moving to central Alabama this summer. I would like a teaching job in middle or secondary English in a public school. How tough is it to find a teaching position in Alabama right now? How soon before Charter Schools begin to go into full swing in Alabama? Thanks in advance for your help.
I did get certified. Yes, it took a long time. I hold certifications in many different fields such as middle school language arts, science, and social studies in Georgia. I also hold a secondary English certificate in Ga. I have held a K12 art certificate in My state. I'm certified in my state at level 6 with a specialists degre. I majored in English and minored in art. I went back to school over the years to get all of my additional education degrees. I've successfully completed all of the internships required in my fields. All of my cerrificates are active now in Ga. I have passed all of the required tests in Ga. to be certified. Alabama made me take the Praxis in EVERY SUBJECT. So I did. It was very expensive and I had to travel to do so. After scoring extremely high on the secondary English and Middle English Praxis tests, they made me take a basic skills test specific to Alabama in reading, writing and math. Again, more expense and more money. I could understand the math test, but the other two tests were unnecessary, in my opinion, since both the Praxis English tests require written essays. Praxis tests are not often hosted inside Ga. since this state now uses another teacher test besides Praxis. So I had to travel far to take the tests and stay in a hotel overnight...more expense. I've taught English for over 25 years and know what I'm doing,so I felt all this was just about money. Also, you would think that Alabama would give two to five years from the day of the first piece of data they receive from you until they finalize certification....I mean given the number of tests they require and the wait times between the tests. However, they only give you an open window of one year to get all their requirements and all the data in to them....or you have to start all over again. Other surrounding states are not like this. I think I will make the window of time, but now I wonder if I will deal with similar crap from any counties within the state that I'm applying to since the state dept. of edu. Said that Alabamacounties have their own requirements for things like experience documentation from out of state. I mean one would think that Alabama does not want anyone from. Another state to move there and teach. They certainly make it very hard.
MaryOn 10/28/12, Mary wrote: > On 9/06/12, Jean wrote: >> On 8/19/12, Vir Ü wrote: >>> I hope you found your job here in Bama! >>> >>> We hope and pray that Charter schools do not crop up here in >>> Alabama. >> >> Have you applied and received Alabama certification? I hear from >> others ...See MoreOn 10/28/12, Mary wrote: > On 9/06/12, Jean wrote: >> On 8/19/12, Vir Ü wrote: >>> I hope you found your job here in Bama! >>> >>> We hope and pray that Charter schools do not crop up here in >>> Alabama. >> >> Have you applied and received Alabama certification? I hear from >> others that move here that the AL dept of ed. is one of the >> hardest to deal with and the slowest to act. Good luck. We >> don't have charter schools in AL and don't want them. > > I did get certified. Yes, it took a long time. I hold certifications > in many different fields such as middle school language arts, > science, and social studies in Georgia. I also hold a secondary > English certificate in Ga. I have held a K12 art certificate in My > state. I'm certified in my state at level 6 with a specialists > degre. I majored in English and minored in art. I went back to > school over the years to get all of my additional education > degrees. I've successfully completed all of the internships required > in my fields. All of my cerrificates are active now in Ga. I have > passed all of the required tests in Ga. to be certified. > Alabama made me take the Praxis in EVERY SUBJECT. So I did. It > was very expensive and I had to travel to do so. After scoring > extremely high on the secondary English and Middle English Praxis > tests, they made me take a basic skills test specific to Alabama in > reading, writing and math. Again, more expense and more money. I > could understand the math test, but the other two tests were > unnecessary, in my opinion, since both the Praxis English tests > require written essays. Praxis tests are not often hosted inside > Ga. since this state now uses another teacher test besides Praxis. > So I had to travel far to take the tests and stay in a hotel > overnight...more expense. I've taught English for over 25 years and > know what I'm doing,so I felt all this was just about money. > Also, you would think that Alabama would give two to five years > from the day of the first piece of data they receive from you until > they finalize certification....I mean given the number of tests they > require and the wait times between the tests. However, they only > give you an open window of one year to get all their requirements > and all the data in to them....or you have to start all over again. > Other surrounding states are not like this. I think I will make > the window of time, but now I wonder if I will deal with similar > crap from any counties within the state that I'm applying to since > the state dept. of edu. Said that Alabamacounties have their own > requirements for things like experience documentation from out of > state. I mean one would think that Alabama does not want anyone > from. Another state to move there and teach. They certainly make > it very hard. > Sorry about any errors; did not have time to proof and am typing from my tiny phone at my nephew's baseball game. Anyway, I feel for anyone coming in from out of state..lots of work to get certified. I'm committed, so I'm hopeful that I'll find a job. Can't wait to be Bama bound
jaimeOn 5/27/12, Brit04 wrote: > I graduated from college with my BS in Early childhood > and elementary ed in 2010. I still have not been able to > find a position in a public school. I have done everything I > can think of.. called connections, gone door to door of > schools handing resumes and speaking to principals, > sending e-mai...See MoreOn 5/27/12, Brit04 wrote: > I graduated from college with my BS in Early childhood > and elementary ed in 2010. I still have not been able to > find a position in a public school. I have done everything I > can think of.. called connections, gone door to door of > schools handing resumes and speaking to principals, > sending e-mails, etc. I have even branched out and looked > for preschool positions. I've been offered several > preschool or early learning center positions but the pay > is SO low that I can't accept. I even have a background > in ABA therapy and was offered positions at a wonderful > local center for students with Autism. However, the pay > there was SO low, I didn't accept. I am currently working > as a retail store manager and feel so unfulfilled doing it. > How many others out there are having these issues and what > do you do to cope? I would love any other job besides > retail but it seems so few and far between. It would be > wonderful to teach but it seems impossible now The teacher pay i Al is low. Burnout is usually after lots of teaching years. Hang in there. There are jobs. Get someone to help you with a very good resume. Good Luck!
Is there any kind of program in this state that helps new teachers find jobs? I've been searching most of this year, and I haven't found much of anything. I graduated from the University of South Alabama with a degree in English / Secondary Education and am licensed to teach 6th-12th grade. I've searched all over Mobile County, though, and I haven't been able to find anything at all. I'm getting discouraged, and I don't really feel like anyone wants to hire a new English teacher.
It might help if you think you can pass the tests. But those fields are also pretty much glutted. Not as glutted as elementary or history, phys ed, etc so at least you will be improving your odds but the odds are still not good.
> > Also, do you think my interviewing skills and general teaching > skills have anything to do with it? I've gotten plenty of > interviews, but things usually fall apart when I'm asked to > demonstrate a lesson.
If that is holding you back then you need to sub for a while so you can get some practice. I normally think substitute teaching is a bad idea but if you are having trouble with giving a lesson or managing a classroom, that will at least give you a chance to practice.
I can't do it, because I didn't prepare a > lesson and have almost no experience teaching, so I can't make > one up off of the top of my head. > Also, I heard what you said, but, what can I say? I wanted to > become a teacher, and I'm willing to work to find a way in.
Well, that is what all the teacher hopefuls want. Some of them are not going to get it, not with the numbers being what they are. As long as you know the odds. A few people win but not everyone can. The consequences for those who lose are pretty bad.
Now, > how might I get in? I've gotten this far, and I don't plan to > give up unless I absolutely have to.
It is part determination and part luck of the draw unless you know somebody in a position to help you. I think subbing is your best chance. That might get some connections in the district and will give you some experience. The bad thing about subbing is that it can also burn bridges because if the students misbehave and you let them, you look bad. If the students misbehave and you get tough with them, you look bad. You might want to gain experience subbing first in a district that you DO NOT WANT to teach in so you can learn to navigate the shenanigans involved first and then start subbing in a district you do want to work in once you know which end is up.
> On 6/10/12, welcome to reality wrote: >> On 6/09/12, subfrommobile wrote: >>> Alabama teachers, >>> >>> Is there any kind of program in this state that helps new >>> teachers find jobs? >> >> The programs are all aimed toward creating a glut so that >> teachers are plentifully available and can be underpaid and >> abused. They know they have created a glut. Why would they >> attempt to place teachers in a glutted market? >> >> I've been searching most of this year, >>> and I haven't found much of anything. >> >> Some of us have been warning people for years on this board >> that there is a glut of teachers. We get shouted down and >> insulted. The aspiring teachers when we warn them always say >> the same thing, basically this, "You are just a bitter failure >> who didn't get hired so you are trying to destroy my dream >> but nothing is going to stop me from becoming a teachers." >> And then the aspiring teachers always follow that up by >> thanking the people who encouraged them and told them to go >> ahead and become a teacher. Read some of the threads. They >> always go the same way. As an example, check out the thread >> on the Colorado board with Heather and Mitchell I think his >> name is. >> >> I graduated from the >>> University of South Alabama with a degree in English / >>> Secondary Education and am licensed to teach 6th-12th >>> grade. >> >> Glutted. >> >> I've searched all over Mobile County, though, and I >>> haven't been able to find anything at all. >> >> Because there is a glut of teachers. >> >> I'm getting discouraged, and I don't really feel like anyone >> wants to >>> hire a new English teacher. >> >> Not unless you are related to them or go to their church. >> Hiring in education is a lot of nepotism, especially in a >> glutted market. Although, it does not hurt to be young, >> female, and girl next door looking. Principal's like to hire >> simpletons who look passive, which is why they now hire > whole >> batches of Filipina females--they don't just make good mail >> order brides, nannies and maids. They are really good for any >> job where you want someone who you think will keep their mouth >> shut and be helpless and powerless against their employer.
Does anyone know of any homeschooling agencies or private schools that are interested in hiring a new teacher? I live in the Mobile area, and I would really like to get a tutoring / private teaching business started, especially since it looks like it's going to be a bit difficult to find a permanent teaching position right now.
On 6/13/12, don't get it wrote: > On 6/13/12, subfrommobile wrote: >> On 6/13/12, don't get it wrote: >>> On 6/13/12, subfrommobile wrote: >>>> If that's really the case, why are you the only one who >>>> has been answering my >>>> questions? >>> >>> Maybe nobody else gives a ****. >> >> Why wouldn't this board be filled with comments from discouraged >> Education graduates? > > I do read a lot of posts by discouraged education graduates who > can't get jobs. > >> >>> >>> Why aren't there whole threads about a >>>> surplus of teachers in Alabama, >>> >>> If you search back far enough, you'll probably find that >>> there are threads. I have seen many such threads on T-net. >>> Input, "shortage," into the search engine on the corner of >>> the page and you will find lots of such threads full of >>> really angry teacher wannabes. >> >> I won't argue with you here. I have read about many teacher- >> hopefuls who, for whatever reason, can't find jobs. It's usually >> not in places like this, though. > > This board is more dominated by people who have teaching jobs plus > one parent who hates teachers because her kid isn't normal. > Overall, people who have not found teaching jobs don't get much > sympathy here. If anything, they are insulted because the employed > teachers usually feel superior to them. So those who can't get a > job probably don't get much out of posting here and probably > mainly don't bother. > >> >>> and, if that's the >>>> case, how did my classmates manage to find jobs in >>>> fields that are even less in demand than my field? >>> >>> All of your classmates? Well, that surprises me. All of my >>> classmates didn't find jobs. One of my friends subbed for >>> years trying and finally ended up moving several states >>> away from her husband and children in order to get a >>> teaching job. >>> >>> Some >>>> have landed positions in art, music, or PE teaching; >>>> those are harder to come by than core subjects, I >>>> think. >>> >>> "Some" are always going to get a job. >> >> The former classmates that I've met have found work in Education >> in some capacity, if I'm not mistaken, even the ones who majored >> in fields that are not in high demand. > > Maybe the ones you have run into are not a representative sampling. > And what do you mean by in some capacity? > >> >>>> Also, if everything you say is true, why don't the new >>>> graduates who haven't found jobs yet protest the >>>> backward system that doesn't allow them to use their >>>> degrees? >>> >>> Protest to whom? Nobody cares. >> >> If teaching is a saturated market, there are probably many more >> so-called saturated markets in other occupations as well. This >> is major problem, and I'm pretty sure that recent college grads >> who finished only to enter such saturated markets, and their >> parents, certainly do care, and if enough of a commotion were >> made, someone would definitely notice. > > Yes, there are a ton of saturated markets. Haven't you heard about > the college grads who can't get professional jobs and are living > at home still and flipping burgers or jobless. This is being > called the lost generation. > > There is nobody to make a commotion to. Even if they did make a > commotion, it would get them nothing. The occupy movement was > actually partly sparked by that. It was a pretty huge movement > across the nation. Did it get them anything? What changed in > America because a bunch of nobodies protested? > > Who would care if a bunch of jobless people protest? The jobless > protest in South Africa all the time. What does it change? > Nothing. > > Look. The overall opinion of people without jobs or without the > jobs they want is that they are losers and they have done or are > doing something wrong. Mostly, even people's own parents think > that about them. You think anybody cares if a bunch of losers can't > get jobs. > >> >>> We don't have endless amounts of money to >>>> spend changing our projected career path over and over >>>> again. Earning a college degree sometimes takes >>>> thousands of dollars in student loans, loans that, >>>> assuming we don't have decent paying jobs yet, are >>>> getting harder and harder to repay! >>> >>> Again, nobody cares. You are the one with the problem. >>> Banks are getting rich off students like you. When you >>> can't make your student loan payments,they get even >>> richer. >> >> No, it might end up like the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mack >> crisis, if enough people get into this mess. I don't think the >> banks are going to ultimately profit from this, especially if we >> can't pay it back. > > The banks did profit. It doesn't matter if we pay them back. The > government bailed them out in full and will do it again. So the > banks don't care how many people get into a mess. They actually > make more money when people don't pay off their student loans than > when people do. > > The banks are raking in money. The bank presidents got bonuses and > higher salaries. They didn't get hurt in the financial mess they > caused. So why should they care. The government has made it clear > they will always be bailed out. > >> >>>> They create a teacher "shortage" supposedly, >>>> and class sizes get larger and larger, resulting in all >>>> sorts of problems, yet they're too stingy to hire and >>>> train new teachers who could take a little of the >>>> burden off of the veterans and make the classrooms >>>> hospitable again. Is that the jist of it? >>> >>> Sure is. Why should they pay for your training when there >>> are tens of thousands of people just like you so desperate >>> to become teachers that you happily take out student loans >>> to chase your dream. >> >> If the schools never train anyone, they will never get anyone of >> quality. Teaching well takes experience. > > But the schools are training people. Teacher candidates are happily > paying for the training. Besides which, what makes you think that > the people in power really care if quality teachers are available > for the public schools. Do you think people in power's children go > to public schools? Do Obama's children go to public schools? How > many rich and powerful people have their children in public > school? Those people will always have quality teachers for their > kids. Why do you think they care at all what sort of teachers poor > and middle class kids have? > > News flash. They don't care. All those poor and middle class kids > are competition in college and the job market with their own > children. The rich and powerful actually have a disincentive to > educate poor and middle class children. > >> >>> That makes no >>>> sense at all, >>> >>> It does make sense if you realize they don't care about >>> you. >> >> Do they care about their students? Have you seen the condition >> some of these schools are in? > > Yes, I have seen it. I have worked in it. They don't care. Why > should they. Their kids don't go there. > >> >>> and, if that's what's going on, we need >>>> to do something; >>> >>> Do what? Nobody cares. >> >> I think if you count the parents of the students who are getting >> abysmal educations because of large class sizes and a "shortage" >> of qualified teachers (which doesn't really exist), the students >> who are going to college for basically a piece of paper and are >> going to have to either stay in school or default on their >> loans, and the parents, teachers, and members of the community >> who supported them, you will definitely find that a lot of >> people care. > > Those people might care but they are too ignorant to understand who > is to blame. They have had the wool pulled over their eyes so they > are too confused and misled to know the real causes. > >> >>> we need to call the state capitol and >>>> demand that they start creating more teaching >>>> positions >>> >>> They don't care. Call them. The people who answer the phone >>> will give you a polite and insincere, "I'm sorry for your >>> situation." And that is all you will get. >> >> That's assuming there are only a few voices. If that's the case, >> then this isn't a very big problem, and there's no reason to be >> concerned, but, if it is really a problem, eventually they will >> have to do something, because, likely, many will be complaining. > > Why should they care about complaints? What they care about is > campaign donations. Teachers don't fund most of their campaigns. > Rich people, banks, insurance companies, and lobbies (farm lobby, > etc.) fund their campaigns. > > They also care about votes but they won't lose those because people > without jobs don't usually hold individual elected officials > personally responsible for that. Voters usually blame an entire > party. So liberal voters who can't get jobs blame the evil > Republicans and conservative voters who can't get jobs blame the > evil Democrats. See how that works? They have everybody really > conned. >>> , put a cap on the class sizes >>> >>> That has already been done in many states in the last >>> decade. But, really, you want them to make class sizes so >>> small that excess teacher wannabes are guaranteed jobs? >> I >>> don't even agree with doing that. Teaching isn't a jobs >>> corps program like the CCC. >>> >> >> No, pay attention. Does it make sense to have 40+ children in a >> classroom? Divide that by 2, and you would have 20+ children in >> a classroom; that's a much more manageable number. Now, assuming >> every classroom has 40+ children now, if this number were cut in >> half, schools would have to hire several more teachers, which >> would equal more jobs. > > I don't personally agree with you on this. I prefer teaching large > classes. I much prefer a class of 40 than a class of 15. But I > grew up in very large classes so I guess it might be that it seems > like a normal classroom to me. > > Now you pay attention. What difference does 20 make versus 40 > unless a teacher has poor classroom management skills. > > I also don't agree with you that it should be the goal of schools > to hire more teachers. Teaching is not a jobs program, it is to > teach students not provide jobs for adults. > >> >>> , and require >>>> that schools train more teachers. >>> >>> Not understanding this. You want even more teachers to >>> compete against for jobs? >> >> I said that the schools, not the universities, should hire >> qualified teachers who have already graduated and train them to >> fill the vacancies that would be created if schools cut class >> sizes of 40+ students in half. >> >> Feel free to answer me, but if you aren't some troll, I would >> like some background information. Are you involved in Education? >> Which part of Alabama are you from? Why have you decided to be >> so negative? If you want to provide help, suggest something of >> benefit. > > I am not giving you personal information. Sorry. If you have read > this board for a long time then you should understand there are > people here who stalk other people and keep notes on personal > information that people reveal and compile that information. > > I suggested something of benefit on this board every time I warn a > teacher wanna be to choose a different career path. It is like if > I tell a person not to begin smoking. If they ignore me, smoke > anyway, then get cancer later, am I unhelpful because I tell them > there is nothing I can do for them? I tried to help when I told > them not to smoke cigarettes. There is nothing I can do for them > when they ignore that advice and make a decision that can't be > undone. > > Teaching is a glutted field. Even if someone is one of the people > who ends up with a teaching job, in many cases they will find that > it is an unstable career (now not in the past) with poor pay and > horrible working conditions. I tell people that. They do it > anyway. What can I do to change the position they find themselves > in? > > A few lucky people get a job in a good school district with good > working conditions. That is increasingly a smaller proportion of > teaching jobs. That is reality. If you want to see the future of > teaching, read the Florida board. The Florida evaluation scheme, > which will probably be a model for all states with a lot of > minority students, should scare you. Its aim is to make teaching a > short term career so that teachers are expendable and cheap. > > What good advice can I give you? Find a new career. Go back to > school. Become a plumber or x-ray technician. Work for the post > office or UPS. What can I say? >
You don't like what you are hearing so you have to go into denial mode. It is ridiculous watching you make every attempt to evade the truth.
You'll get a job. You just have to keep trying. Is that what you want to hear? Ok. You'll get a teaching job. You just have to be a sub for $65 a day with no benefits. Or keep asking for help here. Somebody will drop a plum teaching job right into your lap if you do that. Everyone has been so eager to help you thus far. Those people who here who write, no problem, become a teacher, persistence will get you a job, jobs are out there, they are really eager to follow up by telling you where there is a job for you now, aren't they?
Do you even know what a troll is? Please, define troll and justify why I am one.
I wanted to remind counselors of the opportunities that are offered by AFS-USA. To view these especially for educators (newsletter, travel programs and curriculum), those who wish to host and send students and to volunteer to support the families and students while the AFS exchange students are here for a year, one may go to [link removed].
Currently, the Miss Tennky Area AFS Volunteer Leadership Team is working on placing exchange students for the fall. Yesterday, we learned that due to a change in getting US visas being approved, AFS-USA needs to have the Thai students placed earlier than planned. To see which Thais, as well as others, need loving host families go to [link removed].
I live in Pennsylvania and a, certified to teach secondary English. I am considering applying for a license in either Alabama or Mississippi. Is there a need for teachers in either of these states?