Career Corner

M.Smith wrote in about trying to locate states that forgive student loans for new teachers. Jack Kronser (HR director in Colorado) writes: Canceling part or all of your student loans is called Loan Forgiveness and is done so at the state and federal level. It is often circumstantial and typically requires some sort of required service. At the federal level, you might go to: www.staffordloan.com, then look under loan forgiveness. Different states have their own programs as well. Here in Colorado, the program is called LIFT and is available to teachers who teach Math, Science, Special Education or ESL; see www.collegeinvest.org. I woud suggest starting to inquire at your state education department for more details on what is available.

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Suzette asked for advice regarding a degree and certification in English. Jack Kronser (HR director in Colorado) writes that "from a school district perspective, we find a good supply of English teachers, but we are always looking for excellent teachers in all fields. I would suggest that you have as much content background as possible, as No Child Left Behind has made that a mandate. So, definitely the major in English. Also a minor in a foreign language, Special Education, English as a Second Language, Reading, etc. will make your job search more successful."

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Barbra asked about returning to the US after several years of teaching in Taiwan. Jack Kronser (HR director in Colorado) writes: "Your question is pretty all-encompassing, but I understand your concerns. Yes, being out of the country that long would make you a little out of touch, however, a good teacher is always a good teacher. I would suggest that you start with reading AAEE's Job Search Handbook (www.aaee.org). There are some great tips on what is happening in education relative to job searchers.

Subject content-wise, I would suggest that you look at websites, such as the National Staff Development Council, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, or the Education Departments of well-known colleges and universities.

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Barbra also mentioned being "out of the loop of American culture and what is going on in the system." Since you are reading Education Week and Agent K-12, you are obviously online and keeping up with the best source! 1) The use of technology in the job search will be one huge change in the seven years that you have been gone. Especially in urban and suburban school districts you will find that applications are completely online. 2) Online applications will contain pre-interview essay questions to see how you think and feel about teaching. 3) Jobs are listed on school district websites, state department websites, nonprofit websites, and commercial websites.

One more suggestion: highlight your international experience. Although there is a good supply of elementary teachers in the Midwest, you have a very unique set of experiences which deserve emphasis. Your international expereince and savvy can serve you well!

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Barbra wrote about being a licensed elementary teacher of 10 years, with a Masters degree and seven years experience in Taiwan. She wanted advice on coming back into the US culture and finding a job. Dawn Jones (Northern IL Univ.) writes:

Are you from the Midwest originally? From what institution did you receive your teaching licensure? You may want to begin by contacting that institution to see what job-seeking services it offers to its alumni (resume and cover letter information, access to job openings, interview tips, and job fairs are some common services). Many institutions in the Midwest will offer reciprocity to graduates from other institutions – sometimes for a fee and sometimes free of charge. Start with larger state schools that have teacher preparation programs. My employer (Northern Illinois University) advises anyone free of charge.

It’s important to be aware that there is a strong supply of elementary educators in the Midwest, so it may take you a bit of time to find a position. I’d advise you to apply ONLY to schools where you know there is an opening, rather than sending out “blanket” cover letters and resumes. Regional Office of Education websites and websites for individual school districts are typically the best places to start when looking for openings. Be sure to research districts that interest you, so that you can tailor your materials to their needs. Good luck to you as you prepare to return to the United States!

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Lauren asked about the job market for English teachers. We just completed the AAEE teacher supply and demand research study for 2006. Nationally, the numerical rating for English/language arts is 3.06 on a scale of 5.0. This equals being a "Balanced" job market --- there is a balance between the number of candidates available and the number of positions available. However, this does not take geographic location into account. Since I do not know your location, I cannot give you a regional analysis, but most of the regions are still "balanced" for English.

A balanced job market will mean that you will need to seek positions much more actively than candidates in shortage areas (blingual, special education, math, science). The college that you attend will have a career center, and the counselors there will help you seek positions.

Typically, junior colleges or community colleges will look for a master's degree or higher for the faculty who teach on a full-time basis. For part-time instructors, they will look for people who have at least a bachelor's degree and experience in the field. For middle school and high school, employers will look for a bachelor's degree and certification. Some states have a special "middle school" certification as well.

For which type of degree to pursue, I will defer to the others who are writing for the blog. Watch for more responses!

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Jane asked about setting up a career resource room in her high school.

Dawn Jones (Northern Illinois University) writes:
Is your concern about a) selecting materials for a career resource room, or b) securing space for a resource room?
As a school counselor, if you belong to the American School Counselors’ Association - http://www.schoolcounselor.org – you should be able to contact this group regarding the most valuable information to include in a career resource room.

If you are wondering about where to physically locate a career resource room, many of them are situated in sections of a school’s library media center (because school counselors’ offices seldom have adequate space!). Your area code indicates that you are in South Carolina. The South Carolina Department of Education has a section of its website dealing with School Library Media Services: http://ed.sc.gov/agency/offices/tech/ms/lms/ This section offers suggestions for teachers on establishing and equipping a media center.

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