Getting a job as a HS English teacher in NJ

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New Jersey Teachers Chatboard

Getting a job as a HS English teacher in NJ

by Cherry B

Aug 15, 2011

I have read many posts about how difficult it is to get a teaching job in New Jersey...I am wondering if having a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree would help? I graduated with my BA in 2001 and am hoping to transition from the nonprofit field. I have 7 years of experience tutoring for a highly respected agency. I am planning on teaching high school English, and am considering a dual certification in Special Ed/Teacher of Students with Disabilities.

I also got a near-perfect score on my Praxis II in English Literature - Content (198/200). My high score means ETS provided me with a Certificate of Excellence, marking me in the top 15% of all test takers for that exam.

I wouldn't start the MAT program until Fall 2012, and would likely not finish until 2013 (if I entered an accelerated program) or 2014. What else can I do to increase my chances, or am I positioning myself well?

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Sara Cherry,

It sounds as though you are working on a very impressive resume. I am a high school English teacher with a mere B.A. in English. However, I began by subbing and working on my reputation in the schools in which I desired to work. I then moved on to a long term sub position that lead to the tenure track position I currently hold. To ...See More

Aug 15, 2011

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Cherry B Thanks for your response Sara!

I do currently have my BA in English, and I have almost completed the requirements for my CE. I would love to NOT have to go back to school, but I have heard that the MAT program's student teaching element and credentialing would help me get my foot in the door.

I would like to devote myself to subb...See MoreThanks for your response Sara!

I do currently have my BA in English, and I have almost completed the requirements for my CE. I would love to NOT have to go back to school, but I have heard that the MAT program's student teaching element and credentialing would help me get my foot in the door.

I would like to devote myself to subbing, but my current situation would make that difficult. Subbing is such an impermanent form of employment, and I would lose my health insurance, which I need very much at the moment. That's why going back to school seems a pretty fair compromise.

I see your point though. Thanks for your advice & congrats on your success.

On 8/15/11, Sara wrote: > Cherry, > > It sounds as though you are working on a very impressive > resume. I am a high school English teacher with a mere B.A. in > English. However, I began by subbing and working on my > reputation in the schools in which I desired to work. I then > moved on to a long term sub position that lead to the tenure > track position I currently hold. To be honest, who you are on > paper is not always what is important. Getting to know people > and proving yourself in the classroom is a much more effective > way to get a job. Lastly, English is one of the most difficult > disciplines in which to find something, but the special ed cert > should definitely land you a special ed teaching position. > Good luck in your search! > > On 8/15/11, Cherry B wrote: >> I have read many posts about how difficult it is to get a >> teaching job in New Jersey...I am wondering if having a >> Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree would help? I >> graduated with my BA in 2001 and am hoping to transition >> from the nonprofit field. I have 7 years of experience >> tutoring for a highly respected agency. I am planning on >> teaching high school English, and am considering a dual >> certification in Special Ed/Teacher of Students with >> Disabilities. >> >> I also got a near-perfect score on my Praxis II in English >> Literature - Content (198/200). My high score means ETS >> provided me with a Certificate of Excellence, marking me in >> the top 15% of all test takers for that exam. >> >> I wouldn't start the MAT program until Fall 2012, and would >> likely not finish until 2013 (if I entered an accelerated >> program) or 2014. What else can I do to increase my >> chances, or am I positioning myself well?

Aug 16, 2011

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Math Teach Congrats on your certificate of excellence.

One thing I found about teaching in secondary schools,(at least in my current "home state" of CT), is that dministrators don't put much emphasis on an applicant's expertise in the subject area. I too have been subbing and have seen absurd statements written on some of the "regular" math teachers'...See More

Aug 17, 2011

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Miramira I don't know if you need to do the MAT to teach, I'm not up on alternate route. I assume that your BA is in English. That's better than social studies, but still an over- crowded field. If the MAT is not a requirement, forget it/

I've seen ads for special ed English teachers, but your 15% cert won't carry much weight, neither will the MAT...See MoreI don't know if you need to do the MAT to teach, I'm not up on alternate route. I assume that your BA is in English. That's better than social studies, but still an over- crowded field. If the MAT is not a requirement, forget it/

I've seen ads for special ed English teachers, but your 15% cert won't carry much weight, neither will the MAT. The English praxis covers a lot of literature which is what a regular ed English teacher needs, but there are hundreds of teachers like this. High scores are not uncommon. I scored a 190 on the English praxis and I never got an interview. I went back to school for science. I got lots of interviews.

When a school is looking for a special ed English teacher, they want someone who can help students who struggle with reading and writing. If you want to teach special ed. English, you should get certified as Teacher of Students with Disabilities. But there are still a lot of special ed. English teachers. In addition, get certified in a reading program, something like Wilson reading or Orton-Gillingham. Then you'll get hired.

On 8/17/11, Math Teach wrote: > Congrats on your certificate of excellence. > > One thing I found about teaching in secondary schools,(at > least in my current "home state" of CT), is that dministrators > don't put much emphasis on an applicant's expertise in the > subject area. I too have been subbing and have seen absurd > statements written on some of the "regular" math teachers' > blackboards. I'm currently a grad student in classic math, and > never managed to get an interview in the school where I'm > practically a daily sub. > > I'm planning on ultimately finding work at a two year college, > where the "Math Ed" degree doesn't carry much weight. > > > On 8/15/11, Cherry B wrote: >> I have read many posts about how difficult it is to get a >> teaching job in New Jersey...I am wondering if having a >> Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree would help? I >> graduated with my BA in 2001 and am hoping to transition >> from the nonprofit field. I have 7 years of experience >> tutoring for a highly respected agency. I am planning on >> teaching high school English, and am considering a dual >> certification in Special Ed/Teacher of Students with >> Disabilities. >> >> I also got a near-perfect score on my Praxis II in English >> Literature - Content (198/200). My high score means ETS >> provided me with a Certificate of Excellence, marking me in >> the top 15% of all test takers for that exam. >> >> I wouldn't start the MAT program until Fall 2012, and would >> likely not finish until 2013 (if I entered an accelerated >> program) or 2014. What else can I do to increase my >> chances, or am I positioning myself well?

Aug 18, 2011

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