Alternative vs Traditional Route to Teaching in IL

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Illinois Teachers Chatboard

Alternative vs Traditional Route to Teaching in IL

by Quincy University or Saint Xavier University?

Sep 12, 2010

Hello,

I am interested in becoming a middle school science teacher. I have enough credits from my undergraduate degree to apply towards an endorsement, i hold a BSN. I have been accepted into two programs. One is the traditional route, Masters of Art in Teaching. The other is a Alternative Certification program offered through Quincy University partnered with NTEC. It consists of a rigorous jump start semester followed by a year long, paid, student teaching experience while attending evening courses towards a Masters of Arts in Teaching. I would be working as a teacher of record, on a alternative certificate and after the year of teaching on the provisional certificate will be issued an initial certificate.

What are your thought on alternative certification programs? Do you know anyone in your district that has gone through this route? Do you believe job prospects will increase or decrease with this certificate? Is there still a need for science teachers in Illinois...See More

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sped On 9/12/10, Quincy University or Saint Xavier University? wrote:

> What are your thought on alternative certification > programs? Do you know anyone in your district that has gone > through this route?

No. I hire special ed teachers. A couple of years ago, special ed was about the highest need field out there. Now, nothi...See MoreOn 9/12/10, Quincy University or Saint Xavier University? wrote:

> What are your thought on alternative certification > programs? Do you know anyone in your district that has gone > through this route?

No. I hire special ed teachers. A couple of years ago, special ed was about the highest need field out there. Now, nothing is "high need" but even in a needy field, I almost never saw an "alternate cert" application get an interview at my suburban district.

Do you believe job prospects will > increase or decrease with this certificate?

As I said, it seems like they decrease. However, urban schools may be different. Also, getting paid while attending your program is attractive.

Is there still > a need for science teachers in Illinois?

Not really. There were mass teacher lay-offs in Illinois this year in every field. Even the traditionally higher need fields like secondary math, special ed, ELL, and bilingual got cut, and English, social science, and elem ed got cut even deeper in many districts. The state budget is still in very bad shape and looks to be up for another round of deep cuts no matter who wins the election. Science used to be considered a high need field, but even before the economic implosion the state and nation suffered, that shortage was easing, especially in IL.

What other advice > would you give me as a career changer and prospective > middle school science teacher?

Remain a nurse. Save yourself a couple years and some money. It's unlikely you'll be employable. I hate to be so negative, but this job market is horrible and won't be better over the next several years. In fact ,it will likely be worse. If you don't need a job and want to see what teaching might be like, then give it a go. However, if you need a job, then don't go into teaching. It is highly unlikely that you'll get a public school teaching job. Private schools, in case you weren't aware, don't pay anything and even they have their pick of the litter right now.

I'm also concerned about the "middle school" part of "science teacher." Which type of certificate are you going for? A Type 03 Elementary or a Type 09 Secondary? Though neither type of science teacher is particularly marketable right now, you should go the secondary route if possible. Both certificates can teach middle school, with a couple of extra classes, but elem ed is very, very over-saturated right now. Something like Chem or Physics might make you a bit more employable at the high school level.

>

Sep 17, 2010

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Betty Ann With your background in nursing and your interest in teaching, what about getting a master's in nursing and teaching nursing? I believe that qualified nursing instructors are actually in demand, while elementary and high school teachers are having trouble finding jobs.

But confirms this before starting.

On 9/12/10, Quincy Universi...See More

Sep 18, 2010

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Hollywood On 9/17/10, sped wrote: > What other advice >> would you give me as a career changer and prospective >> middle school science teacher? > > Remain a nurse. Save yourself a couple years and some money. > It's unlikely you'll be employable. I hate to be so negative, > but this job market is horrible and won't be better over ...See MoreOn 9/17/10, sped wrote: > What other advice >> would you give me as a career changer and prospective >> middle school science teacher? > > Remain a nurse. Save yourself a couple years and some money. > It's unlikely you'll be employable. I hate to be so negative, > but this job market is horrible and won't be better over the > next several years. In fact ,it will likely be worse. If you > don't need a job and want to see what teaching might be like, > then give it a go. However, if you need a job, then don't go > into teaching. It is highly unlikely that you'll get a public > school teaching job. Private schools, in case you weren't > aware, don't pay anything and even they have their pick of the > litter right now.

Sped, I respect your opinions and look forward to your posts, but I do question what you're saying here. There is always going to be turnover in teaching...people retire, move, change careers, go into a different specialty, become stay-at-home moms/dads, etc.

Jobs are not impossible to find. I work for CPS, and several teachers were laid off from my school in June. All of them were called back, but some of them had already found other jobs. Of the teachers hired to fill those empty spots--including one science position--three are first-year teachers.

Yes, the job market is grim right now, but someone considering a career change to teaching isn't going to be looking for a job right now. It took me a year and a half of taking courses part-time before I was ready for student teaching; we have no idea what things will be like 18 months from now, or well into 2012.

You are correct to be realistic and say that teaching jobs aren't as easy to come by as they were just a few years ago. I don't know what your district is like; you might know a lot more unemployed teachers, or people who weren't as lucky as my friends in obtaining new jobs. But I think we're undercutting ourselves to discourage people who may very well be talented and have something to offer from going into the profession at all. Teaching is my second career, and many of my colleagues also came from other backgrounds; I think we all bring valuable perspectives into the classroom, and we need to keep encouraging that.

Sep 19, 2010

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sped On 9/19/10, Hollywood wrote: > Jobs are not impossible to find. I work for CPS, and several > teachers were laid off from my school in June. All of them were > called back, but some of them had already found other jobs. Of > the teachers hired to fill those empty spots--including one > science position--three are first-year teachers....See MoreOn 9/19/10, Hollywood wrote: > Jobs are not impossible to find. I work for CPS, and several > teachers were laid off from my school in June. All of them were > called back, but some of them had already found other jobs. Of > the teachers hired to fill those empty spots--including one > science position--three are first-year teachers.

Despite the fact that I have a job as an administrator, and a tenured teaching position waiting for me if my position is eliminated, I have never been more discouraged on the job front in Illinois. It's probably because I now actually see the budget and have an idea of what we're looking at next year and for the foreseeable future... It ain't good. > > Yes, the job market is grim right now, but someone considering a > career change to teaching isn't going to be looking for a job > right now. It took me a year and a half of taking courses > part-time before I was ready for student teaching; we have no idea > what things will be like 18 months from now, or well into 2012.

Ah, but I do. Most of us admin types start seriously looking at our schedule and staffing needs for next year starting in October. Sure, they shift, but was start looking at them very early on. I've always been vague about where I work, but maybe not vague enough..., so I'll just say that I've already been told to prepare to cut several staff, and most other administrators in the district have been told to expect another round of budget cuts. > > You are correct to be realistic and say that teaching jobs aren't > as easy to come by as they were just a few years ago. I don't > know what your district is like; you might know a lot more > unemployed teachers, or people who weren't as lucky as my friends > in obtaining new jobs. But I think we're undercutting ourselves > to discourage people who may very well be talented and have > something to offer from going into the profession at all.

Basically, this last year was a nasty year of lay-offs and blood-letting, and next year is going to be much worse. Quite frankly, look at the state's financial situation, with a massive deficit and political gridlock, and state money will continue to be cut or never arrive. Believe it or not, the state has been putting a band-aid on a nasty, deep wound, and the cuts made in the state budget last year are just a drop in the bucket of what needs to be done. Locally, districts will not be able to get passed the level of funding required to make up for the upcoming state shortfalls. It would require large tax increases that I just don't see most communities accepting.

I don't like being so discouraging. Trust me. Just a couple of years ago, I had a shortage of qualified special ed teachers. Now, I know special ed grads who can't get an interview at a private, alternative school paying $20K per year.

While you're right, some first years do get jobs and others who were laid off do get called back, I just can't, in good conscience, advise anyone to go into any type of teaching in Illinois at this time. You will live with an ax over your head for several years and deal with job insecurity constantly. This is especially true if that person is a nurse, which is a field with good job prospects. My opinion and I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am. There is no shortage of people willing to invest the time and money to become teachers, so we will have our pick of educators for many years to come.

Sep 19, 2010

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Quincy or Saint Xavier Thank you very much for your honesty and advice. I will contemplate this further and will be in touch with administrators in my area, I plan on making a final decision before the end of this year. It's a shame that Illinois is in the situation, many highly qualified prospective teachers will be turned away. This is a huge disservice to our children...See MoreThank you very much for your honesty and advice. I will contemplate this further and will be in touch with administrators in my area, I plan on making a final decision before the end of this year. It's a shame that Illinois is in the situation, many highly qualified prospective teachers will be turned away. This is a huge disservice to our children, and consequently to our nation's future. On 9/19/10, sped wrote: > On 9/19/10, Hollywood wrote: >> Jobs are not impossible to find. I work for CPS, and several >> teachers were laid off from my school in June. All of them were >> called back, but some of them had already found other jobs. Of >> the teachers hired to fill those empty spots--including one >> science position--three are first-year teachers. > > Despite the fact that I have a job as an administrator, and a tenured > teaching position waiting for me if my position is eliminated, I have > never been more discouraged on the job front in Illinois. It's > probably because I now actually see the budget and have an idea of > what we're looking at next year and for the foreseeable future... It > ain't good. >> >> Yes, the job market is grim right now, but someone considering a >> career change to teaching isn't going to be looking for a job >> right now. It took me a year and a half of taking courses >> part-time before I was ready for student teaching; we have no idea >> what things will be like 18 months from now, or well into 2012. > > Ah, but I do. Most of us admin types start seriously looking at our > schedule and staffing needs for next year starting in October. Sure, > they shift, but was start looking at them very early on. I've always > been vague about where I work, but maybe not vague enough..., so I'll > just say that I've already been told to prepare to cut several staff, > and most other administrators in the district have been told to > expect another round of budget cuts. >> >> You are correct to be realistic and say that teaching jobs aren't >> as easy to come by as they were just a few years ago. I don't >> know what your district is like; you might know a lot more >> unemployed teachers, or people who weren't as lucky as my friends >> in obtaining new jobs. But I think we're undercutting ourselves >> to discourage people who may very well be talented and have >> something to offer from going into the profession at all. > > Basically, this last year was a nasty year of lay-offs and > blood-letting, and next year is going to be much worse. Quite > frankly, look at the state's financial situation, with a massive > deficit and political gridlock, and state money will continue to be > cut or never arrive. Believe it or not, the state has been putting a > band-aid on a nasty, deep wound, and the cuts made in the state > budget last year are just a drop in the bucket of what needs to be > done. Locally, districts will not be able to get passed the level of > funding required to make up for the upcoming state shortfalls. It > would require large tax increases that I just don't see most > communities accepting. > > I don't like being so discouraging. Trust me. Just a couple of > years ago, I had a shortage of qualified special ed teachers. Now, I > know special ed grads who can't get an interview at a private, > alternative school paying $20K per year. > > While you're right, some first years do get jobs and others who were > laid off do get called back, I just can't, in good conscience, advise > anyone to go into any type of teaching in Illinois at this time. You > will live with an ax over your head for several years and deal with > job insecurity constantly. This is especially true if that person is > a nurse, which is a field with good job prospects. My opinion and I > hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am. There is no shortage of > people willing to invest the time and money to become teachers, so we > will have our pick of educators for many years to come. >

Oct 5, 2010

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