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thinking of becoming a teacher.. I need your opinion...

by Charlie C

Jul 16, 2009

I have just been let go from my job (I'm in IT). I've been in the corporate world for what feels like forever. Although the pay is good, i've always felt a little empty working in the corporate world. I am 33 years old and have a wife and 8 month old daughter. I need an honest answer, however hard it may be to hear, but is it too late for me to become a teacher? I've always been good with math/ physics, and obivously technology. With an 8 month old daughter to support, how hard will the road be? i've read somewhere that there is a period of a year where you do not collect a paycheck while in the process of becoming a teaching in CT. Is this true?

Thanks, Charlie

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Recent ARC math grad Hi, sorry for the late reply but I haven't been on the boards in awhile and this thread spoke to me in volumes. Add about 8-10 years to your age and one more kid, have your layoff be about a year ago, and you are me (I was in IT and jaded with the corporate world as well).

I just finished the ARC summer program for middle school Math. The ...See MoreHi, sorry for the late reply but I haven't been on the boards in awhile and this thread spoke to me in volumes. Add about 8-10 years to your age and one more kid, have your layoff be about a year ago, and you are me (I was in IT and jaded with the corporate world as well).

I just finished the ARC summer program for middle school Math. The summer program has both middle and high school math, the fall just high school math, though a high school certificate will let you teach middle school math as well.

Generally, math candidates do get hired somewhere (it will often be an "urban" district), but this year may be the exception as I know of only a couple of people who have jobs so far (there were 20 people in the HS group, and 13 in the MS group), but who knows what will happen in the next couple of weeks. The MS group had an "alumni day" where 6 of the 12 people from last year's MS class came to talk about their first year, 5 of the 6 did have jobs by the start of the school year, 2 of which had multiple offers, the other one got a job mid-year (in the spring). I have sent out about 50 applications (though only a few were for districts with actual openings, I just wanted to get on their "system" for future openings), have had two actual interviews for jobs I didn't end up getting and also one phone interview for another position, so I'm not one of those lucky ones who have a job.

As for layoffs, it can be budgets, or it can be that you do not get your contract renewed for the next year. You can also be laid off in June due to budget but still called back in August if you haven't found employment elsewhere (because a surprise retirement that doesn't get replaced opens budget money). But after 4 years in the same position you get tenure.

I hope that helps. Good luck!

On 7/23/09, Charlie wrote: > Thanks for the reply! How do teachers end up losing jobs anyway. Is it > through budget cuts that teachers are laid off? Are teachers jobs > evaluated every year and the under performing ones are let go? I've > always assumed that once you're in, you're in. > > Regarding the low 30's to mid 40's starting salary range, what are the > annual increases for teachers? Are the benefits good? any kind of > pension plan? do they usually stay at 40k for the rest of your career? > > Thanks, > > Charlie > > On 7/21/09, Math Teach wrote: >> Charlie: The average salary is roughly $40,000. That's if you can >> get a job, with the ritzy towns paying in the mid 40's, and some >> towns paying in the low 30's. One does not teach to get rich. I was >> working as an actuarial assistant at a Manhattan insurance company >> over 20 years ago, and left with a salary in the 40's! >> >> It's harder this year than last (I have 20 applications out there, >> and I've had one interview). There is NO shortage of math teachers. >> Sure, there are 35 vacancies posted on CT reap and CEA, but I >> personally know of five teachers looking for work (from only two >> high schools). >> >> If you want to consider ARC, you just missed the deadline for the >> FALL program. The deadline for the Summer 2010 program is in >> January, meaning you'll graduuate next August, and be working next >> September, at the earliest. >> >> [link removed]

Aug 19, 2009

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Math Teach Even the Inner City districts do not hire. I went to the Job Fair at New Britain last October. They had openings for their HS. I was all but told that because I was teaching at a respectable suburban school, I would not qualify for their district. I get angry at this because it's the "Inner City" districts that claim they can't get teachers (meanwh...See MoreEven the Inner City districts do not hire. I went to the Job Fair at New Britain last October. They had openings for their HS. I was all but told that because I was teaching at a respectable suburban school, I would not qualify for their district. I get angry at this because it's the "Inner City" districts that claim they can't get teachers (meanwhile there are 20 applicants/job for the suburban ones). This creates a "shortage area" such as math, which ends up with passing Praxis 2 scores being lowered (One needs a 137 for the 7-12 Math- anyone with a pulse can pass this one).

I did get interviewed at New Canaan, and Woodstock recently. I'm waiting to hear. I didn't even get an interview at a local district where I've subbed for the past two years- and lived for the past ten. (loyalty pays off, huh?).

Oh, and forget the job fairs such as SHARC. One guy asked me if I am comfortable with Calculus! (Um, no. I was only a math major, having 15 credits in four calc courses, including Analysis), not to mention cources in ODE's and PDE's, etc.

I've been accepted and will be getting my M.S. in applied (classical) math. I briefly considered a master's in math education, but I'm leaning towards teaching in college eventually, where math majors are welcome. Having a math degree doesn't mean much to the public school system. Cheers.

On 8/19/09, Recent ARC math grad wrote: > Hi, sorry for the late reply but I haven't been on the boards in awhile > and this thread spoke to me in volumes. Add about 8-10 years to your age > and one more kid, have your layoff be about a year ago, and you are me (I > was in IT and jaded with the corporate world as well). > > I just finished the ARC summer program for middle school Math. The summer > program has both middle and high school math, the fall just high school > math, though a high school certificate will let you teach middle school > math as well. > > Generally, math candidates do get hired somewhere (it will often be > an "urban" district), but this year may be the exception as I know of only > a couple of people who have jobs so far (there were 20 people in the HS > group, and 13 in the MS group), but who knows what will happen in the next > couple of weeks. The MS group had an "alumni day" where 6 of the 12 > people from last year's MS class came to talk about their first year, 5 of > the 6 did have jobs by the start of the school year, 2 of which had > multiple offers, the other one got a job mid-year (in the spring). I have > sent out about 50 applications (though only a few were for districts with > actual openings, I just wanted to get on their "system" for future > openings), have had two actual interviews for jobs I didn't end up getting > and also one phone interview for another position, so I'm not one of those > lucky ones who have a job. > > As for layoffs, it can be budgets, or it can be that you do not get your > contract renewed for the next year. You can also be laid off in June due > to budget but still called back in August if you haven't found employment > elsewhere (because a surprise retirement that doesn't get replaced opens > budget money). But after 4 years in the same position you get tenure. > > I hope that helps. Good luck! > > > > > > > On 7/23/09, Charlie wrote: >> Thanks for the reply! How do teachers end up losing jobs anyway. Is it >> through budget cuts that teachers are laid off? Are teachers jobs >> evaluated every year and the under performing ones are let go? I've >> always assumed that once you're in, you're in. >> >> Regarding the low 30's to mid 40's starting salary range, what are the >> annual increases for teachers? Are the benefits good? any kind of >> pension plan? do they usually stay at 40k for the rest of your career? >> >> Thanks, >> >> Charlie >> >> On 7/21/09, Math Teach wrote: >>> Charlie: The average salary is roughly $40,000. That's if you can >>> get a job, with the ritzy towns paying in the mid 40's, and some >>> towns paying in the low 30's. One does not teach to get rich. I was >>> working as an actuarial assistant at a Manhattan insurance company >>> over 20 years ago, and left with a salary in the 40's! >>> >>> It's harder this year than last (I have 20 applications out there, >>> and I've had one interview). There is NO shortage of math teachers. >>> Sure, there are 35 vacancies posted on CT reap and CEA, but I >>> personally know of five teachers looking for work (from only two >>> high schools). >>> >>> If you want to consider ARC, you just missed the deadline for the >>> FALL program. The deadline for the Summer 2010 program is in >>> January, meaning you'll graduuate next August, and be working next >>> September, at the earliest. >>> >>> [link removed]

Aug 20, 2009

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New ARC grad It will be interesting to see if there will be a summer ARC program next year (I know that there is a fall p/t one this year, they start in about a month and a half).

They get you the student teaching placements, and I know they had some trouble with finding placements for everyone this summer compared to the past due to budget issues at s...See MoreIt will be interesting to see if there will be a summer ARC program next year (I know that there is a fall p/t one this year, they start in about a month and a half).

They get you the student teaching placements, and I know they had some trouble with finding placements for everyone this summer compared to the past due to budget issues at school districts regarding summer school(but they did find them in the end). In "normal" years a lot of the student teaching is in Norwalk (for those who are from Fairfield County, sometimes Bridgeport as well) and New Britain and neither distict did any of that this time around (instead a lot more placements were done at ConnCom (which is in New Britain but is related to CCSU, not the district itself), West Hartford, CREC magnet schools in metro Hartford, and Rocky Hill, for the latter three it is because certain administrators in the districts have long- standing ties with ARC and agreed to take in more student teachers than usual). They used to send a lot of student teachers to Hartford city as well, but the district has more of an August focus with summer school now and with the program setup so you student teach during July (as you "graduate" the first week in Aug), that wouldn't work out.

I say this because at another alternate route program, NY City Teaching Fellows, they severely cut the number of acceptances this summer (about 1/3 of who they normally take in) out of concern they won't be able to place a lot of people for jobs after "graduation" (you actually do the work for finding a job, though they do have some contact with principals and superintendents and let you know of openings, same thing happens with ARC). They also eliminated the "mid year" program (their equivalent of ARC's fall/summer program, though I think it has more of a full-time focus).

On 8/20/09, Math Teach wrote: > Even the Inner City districts do not hire. I went to > the Job Fair at New > Britain last October. They had openings for their HS. I > was all but told that because I was teaching at a > respectable suburban school, I would not qualify for > their district. I get angry at this because it's the > "Inner City" districts that claim they can't > get teachers (meanwhile there are 20 applicants/job for > the suburban ones). This creates a "shortage > area" such as math, which ends up with passing > Praxis 2 scores being lowered (One needs a 137 for the > 7-12 Math- anyone with a pulse can pass this one). > > I did get interviewed at New Canaan, and Woodstock > recently. I'm waiting to hear. I didn't even get an > interview at a local district where I've subbed for the > past two years- and lived for the past ten. (loyalty > pays off, huh?). > > Oh, and forget the job fairs such as SHARC. One guy > asked me if I am comfortable with Calculus! (Um, no. I > was only a math major, having 15 credits in four calc > courses, including Analysis), not to mention cources in > ODE's and PDE's, etc. > > I've been accepted and will be getting my M.S. in > applied (classical) math. I briefly considered a > master's in math education, but I'm leaning towards > teaching in college eventually, where math majors are > welcome. Having a math degree doesn't mean much to the > public school system. Cheers. > > > > On 8/19/09, Recent ARC math grad wrote: >> Hi, sorry for the late reply but I haven't been on >> the boards in awhile and this thread spoke to me in >> volumes. Add about 8-10 years to your age and one >> more kid, have your layoff be about a year ago, and >> you are me (I was in IT and jaded with the corporate >> world as well). >> >> I just finished the ARC summer program for middle >> school Math. The summer program has both middle and >> high school math, the fall just high school math, >> though a high school certificate will let you teach >> middle school math as well. >> >> Generally, math candidates do get hired somewhere (it >> will often be an "urban" district), but >> this year may be the exception as I know of only a >> couple of people who have jobs so far (there were 20 >> people in the HS group, and 13 in the MS group), but >> who knows what will happen in the next couple of >> weeks. The MS group had an "alumni day" >> where 6 of the 12 people from last year's MS class >> came to talk about their first year, 5 of the 6 did >> have jobs by the start of the school year, 2 of which >> had multiple offers, the other one got a job mid-year >> (in the spring). I have sent out about 50 >> applications (though only a few were for districts >> with actual openings, I just wanted to get on their >> "system" for future openings), have had two >> actual interviews for jobs I didn't end up getting >> and also one phone interview for another position, so >> I'm not one of those lucky ones who have a job. >> >> As for layoffs, it can be budgets, or it can be that >> you do not get your contract renewed for the next >> year. You can also be laid off in June due to budget >> but still called back in August if you haven't found >> employment elsewhere (because a surprise retirement >> that doesn't get replaced opens budget money). But >> after 4 years in the same position you get tenure. >> >> I hope that helps. Good luck! >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On 7/23/09, Charlie wrote: >>> Thanks for the reply! How do teachers end up losing >>> jobs anyway. Is it through budget cuts that >>> teachers are laid off? Are teachers jobs evaluated >>> every year and the under performing ones are let >>> go? I've always assumed that once you're in, you're >>> in. >>> >>> Regarding the low 30's to mid 40's starting salary >>> range, what are the annual increases for teachers? >>> Are the benefits good? any kind of pension plan? do >>> they usually stay at 40k for the rest of your >>> career? >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> Charlie >>> >>> On 7/21/09, Math Teach wrote: >>>> Charlie: The average salary is roughly $40,000. >>>> That's if you can get a job, with the ritzy towns >>>> paying in the mid 40's, and some towns paying in >>>> the low 30's. One does not teach to get rich. I >>>> was working as an actuarial assistant at a >>>> Manhattan insurance company over 20 years ago, >>>> and left with a salary in the 40's! >>>> >>>> It's harder this year than last (I have 20 >>>> applications out there, and I've had one >>>> interview). There is NO shortage of math >>>> teachers. Sure, there are 35 vacancies posted on >>>> CT reap and CEA, but I personally know of five >>>> teachers looking for work (from only two high >>>> schools). >>>> >>>> If you want to consider ARC, you just missed the >>>> deadline for the FALL program. The deadline for >>>> the Summer 2010 program is in January, meaning >>>> you'll graduuate next August, and be working next >>>> September, at the earliest. >>>> >>>> [link removed]

Aug 20, 2009

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Beach Teach Charlie,

After reading the responses about math positions, I would look into a physics or general science certification. I know that schools have a hard time filling physics positions maybe not this year but by the time you are certified the economy should be better. There is also certifications in tech ed but I don't know the job market. ...See More

Aug 26, 2009

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Anonymous If you go for science, make sure you have the credits to get into ARC or wherever for that. A Comp Sci/IT person will probably have an easier time getting in for Math than a science.

I just graduated ARC in Math and while it is hard for everyone, this year it appears to be equally hard for both Math and Science. I know of 2 people out of a...See More

Aug 30, 2009

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