Any Career Changer Teachers On The Board?

[KAPA]

Thinking about a career change, probably not the most likely place to get feedback on the subject but wondering if anyone with experience in the Denver area has any experiences they want to share? Particularly in the hiring process and how you got there?

Seems like if you already have your degree you can get your certificate in a year or so and then pass the Praxis tests and you are eligible for hire in CO.

I gotta think your chances are pretty good to get hired if you are male, especially in the K-6 schools?

[thedave1164]

I had to read your post a couple of times in order to figure out that you are looking to change careers and become a teacher.

Just saying.....

[mattiooo]

Following - I've thought about it a few times over the years. I would love to teach photography beyond the workshop level.

[KAPA]

Following - I've thought about it a few times over the years. I would love to teach photography beyond the workshop level.

Do they even teach that in school? I suppose High School may have something like that to support the Yearbook kind of stuff?

[Great-Kazoo]

Do they even teach that in school? I suppose High School may have something like that to support the Yearbook kind of stuff?

Yearbooks are outsourced to 3rd party.

[mattiooo]

Do they even teach that in school? I suppose High School may have something like that to support the Yearbook kind of stuff?

Some high schools and most colleges have a program.


Yearbooks are outsourced to 3rd party.

That is correct for most schools now. Also, they are selling yearbooks at grade school levels now. At the end of each year, the school uses several techniques to try to guilt parents into buying them. He was only in 2nd grade.

[KAPA]

Ouch that is depressing. Seems everything is outsourced these days. Another reason teaching grade school is appealing. Can't really outsource that yet.

[BladesNBarrels]

Seems everything is outsourced these days. Another reason teaching grade school is appealing. Can't really outsource that yet.

Home Schooling or would that be insourced?

[The Norseman]

Look into the Boettcher Teacher Residency program. https://www.boettcherteachers.org/

PM me if you'd like a perspective.


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[cstone]

Substitute before you dive in head first.

Many of the little darlings have this inviting habit of saying, "Make me" or "You can't make me." While I love a challenge; in today's world, termination with a law suit is sure to follow my efforts to honor the request.

[sniper7]

Yes I'd definitely sub first just to see what you might be getting yourself into. My wife is a assistant principal, and everyone except me in my family are teachers: Sister, BIL, both parents. They work very hard for a decent living but pay is not great. Schedules are nice with all holidays and summers off. Good retirement through PERA which makes the pay more acceptable.
As far as schooling goes I'd have to ask my wife what she would recommend as she hires a lot of people and interviews a ton.
It can be very rewarding, challenging, trying....etc. you deal with not only the good and bad kids but the parents, the other teachers, management, etc. it is hardly a job where you go home and forget everything, you are always taking stuff home, being prepared, making lessons etc.

[OtterbatHellcat]

Yearbooks are outsourced to 3rd party.

The vast majority of my uncles photography business was doing school yearbook gigs, and he was doing it heavy in the 80's and 90's.

eta....if you lived anywhere near Boulder or up the valley in the north part of the state, I'd bet if you had a school photo taken, or one of your kid(s) during that time, ....he took it.

[KestrelBike]

Yes I'd definitely sub first just to see what you might be getting yourself into. My wife is a assistant principal, and everyone except me in my family are teachers: Sister, BIL, both parents. They work very hard for a decent living but pay is not great. Schedules are nice with all holidays and summers off. Good retirement through PERA which makes the pay more acceptable.
As far as schooling goes I'd have to ask my wife what she would recommend as she hires a lot of people and interviews a ton.
It can be very rewarding, challenging, trying....etc. you deal with not only the good and bad kids but the parents, the other teachers, management, etc. it is hardly a job where you go home and forget everything, you are always taking stuff home, being prepared, making lessons etc.

^^^^ Definitely do some substitute teaching first. In low-income schools.

I actually career-switched. From accounting to a secondary education (middle & high school; 6-12) history & social studies teacher, I'll start my first full-time gig in a month, actually. You really gotta want it and have to go through a lot of B.S. to A) get your certificate and B) get hired, depending what subject you teach. I'll PM you my phone # if you want the run-down.

Props btw to BigBear for helping me with an interview during some of my Master's coursework!

[KAPA]

Thanks all, the sub teaching sounds like a great way to get your foot in the door and try it out. I have some familiarity in teaching kids already, just no teaching certificate yet. It does seem like it takes a lot to get all the credentials in CO, but all I hear is how there is a teacher shortage, combine that with this being something I feel like I would be good at and actually enjoy, I am trying to get as much info as possible.

I really have no desire to teach in Denver, looking more at K-6 in DougCo, might be interested in Junior High or even High school down the road.

I have found some programs that claim to be able to get your teaching certificate in under a year but was really wondering how realistic it is to get hired after I spend 9 months or so not working but taking classes instead. I know they have the Alternative Career program in CO but even that takes some time if all you have is a 4 year degree, plus you have to get hired before you have your license with that program. Can't imagine that happens all that often with a fresh batch of grads every May coming through with degrees in education and a teaching certificate.

The thing I am really wondering is if the teacher shortage is real across the board here in CO, or if it is just math teachers at the High school level that they can't find?

[KAPA]

I found this program from reading about CSU's Master's program. https://www.teacherready.org/

CSU uses it to get their students their teaching certificate in addition to a Master's in Education. I am thinking if I just want to teach and be employed, just do the Teacher Ready program and get a teaching job, then spend the next few summers working on the Master's degree.

Anyone heard of Teacher Ready?

I have read about the Boettcher program linked earlier in the thread but that one seems to take several years before you are employed as a teacher.

[BigBear]

I am a teacher. If you have specific questions I'd love to answer them.