Career Changer- ISO Advice for transition to teaching!

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Maryland Teachers Chatboard

Career Changer- ISO Advice for transition to teaching!

by Amanda M.

Jun 14, 2010

I have recently decided to pursue my dream of becoming an elementary school teacher. I am currently a financial analyst and hold a bachelor's degree from a competitive university. I am finding it difficult to navigate through the programs available for certification in Montgomery (and possibly Howard and Frederick) Counties. For financial reasons, I am not able to stop working for a year or more to obtain my masters through one of UMD's excellent programs. Are there any online, part time or other flexible teacher certification programs that lead to elementary school placement in any of these counties? I am determined to pursue this dream no matter what- even if it takes many years! Thank you in advance for any information or assistance you may be able to provide!

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Same Boat One thing you will find is that the career changer teacher programs are cut way-back in Maryland counties because there really isn't a shortage of teachers at the moment. I was in the same boat as you were and I made the change last year in Prince George's County's Resident Teacher Program. It involved a six-week PAID (not much, but still paid) tra...See MoreOne thing you will find is that the career changer teacher programs are cut way-back in Maryland counties because there really isn't a shortage of teachers at the moment. I was in the same boat as you were and I made the change last year in Prince George's County's Resident Teacher Program. It involved a six-week PAID (not much, but still paid) training period in the summer and then immediate placement in the classroom in the fall at full teacher's salary (not much but still paid :-) )

I definitely have some criticisms of this program, but overall it was good and I wouldn't have been able to do this transition to teaching elementary school with any of the other programs that are available because they took too long to get paid and I support a family. Baltimore City has a similar resident teacher program, but otherwise I don't know of any counties that have it. For Prince George's County, you are too late for this year--and the program was cut way back to about 50 people. I have no idea what they're going to do next year or if they'll even have it, but if you google Prince George's County Resident Teacher Program (or Baltimore City) you'll find what you're looking for.

Good luck. You're making a difficult move and I want to remind you that teaching is a VERY VERY hard job that requires more time and mental energy than anyone can explain. (I liken it to becoming a parent, nobody can tell you how hard it is, you have to try it yourself to really understand)

On 6/14/10, Amanda M. wrote: > I have recently decided to pursue my dream of becoming an > elementary school teacher. I am currently a financial > analyst and hold a bachelor's degree from a competitive > university. I am finding it difficult to navigate through > the programs available for certification in Montgomery (and > possibly Howard and Frederick) Counties. For financial > reasons, I am not able to stop working for a year or more to > obtain my masters through one of UMD's excellent programs. > Are there any online, part time or other flexible teacher > certification programs that lead to elementary school > placement in any of these counties? I am determined to > pursue this dream no matter what- even if it takes many > years! Thank you in advance for any information or > assistance you may be able to provide!

Jun 21, 2010

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