Brides in Graduate school/Brides who are teachers

Question, this is long and is related to my wedding, I need to vent...

I started yet another new job in corporate america that is a flop - bunch of lies, lies, lies during the interview and the honeymoon is way over after almost 2 months working at this hole...

For a while I have thought about working in the K-12 system (I have a MS in College Student Personnel/basically counseling and education in the college system - long story but I don't think I'm going to use it b/c there are such limited jobs on LI and I can't move off of LI b/c FH makes WAY more than I ever will so we have to be where HE makes the money and he also has a 7 year old son here). I love working with kids, I'm a gymnastics coach p/t and although that job makes no money - it makes me feel VERY good and the time FLYS when I work there. I have a gizzilion student loans already and have heard that there are programs for future teachers to have loans forgiven should they teach in areas where there is a need for teachers which I have NO problem with as where I teach gymnastics would qualify as a low income area and I love it - it's so rewarding.

Anyway, we have been planning on a fall 2006 wedding and our plan was to try for a 'honeymoon' baby or at least soon after the honeymoon, then when my first child is born (since I wouldn't be working anyway other than maybe p/t gymnastics) I'd start even part time grad school for my master's in teaching. I've checked with all the experts (boces, grad school advisors) - I cannot use my current master's in the k-12 system in NYS b/c it won't qualify me for the NYS certification and if I'm lucky 6 credits may be taken from that other masters degree.

But now with the yucky job - FH and I are thinking that it may be better (for my health b/c I'm gonna get an ulcer from this lousy job and I'm probably going to give him one too) for me to consider getting the ball rolling on school. I have several decisions to make b/c I'd love to be a guidance counselor as it almost mirrors the career counseling work I did through my other masters which I loved - but again there's a very limited market on the island, 2nd choice is Social Studies teacher in a high school - another limited market, and finally I'd consider hs science teacher (there is a need on the island I've read) or an elementry ed teacher. I love kids so the subject matter is something I could get over for 180 days of work a year. I also think teaching would be perfect for our long term family goals and I cannot leave Long Island.

Now here's where this is all Wedding related (before you all hate me for not putting the NWR before my subject), if I do apply to start this fall - I'll be in grad school at the time of my wedding - problem #1 is money b/c my income will be limited to teaching gymnastics and I'll have to pay for school, although my old student loans will be on deferment BUT collecting interest. #2 is - I DO want a honeymoon and want to enjoy some time with my new hubby so I'd want at least a week off from school for the wedding... I think that I may be able to work that out with profs, but what are your thoughts? I've known people to take a 'vacation' and in my other masters program I myself took a week off from school in mid-october just to come home and visit my family so I know it can be possible.

Spring weddings seem expensive, my sister's getting married the August before my wedding's currently scheduled date so that summer's out. I'm going crazy gals! I hate when jobs don't work out - it's such a disappointment. I'll try to stick it out, but I'm just not sure how it will work out. I'm not quitting anytime soon, but I know I'm bringing the bad attitude of my work environment home with me and it's p*ssing off FH. He just got himself a new job that is a GREAT opportunity for him and he wants to stay focused and positive, but I come home yelling and miseralbe - that's what I'm around all day!

I am getting my masters in education from queens this june, FM me if you have any questions

Im a teacher and I am getting married in the summer because of this. I am starting grad school next month.. only one class... and am terrified money wise.

I would say def get your teaching degree if you can.. the longer you wait the harder it will be to go back

I hope it all works out.. keep us updated

Yeah, I had a feeling too that if I had my first teaching job by the time of my wedding that a fall wedding would be out. I just love the weather in early october though .

I will FM you guys about Queens college - actually, that's not too far from where I live in western nassau cty.

Do you guys like teaching or are you excited about it? What do you teach? How easy/hard would it be to also get a coaching position in the district you work in (I want to coach varsity gymnastics when I teach as well)...

Going back to school to become a teacher was the BEST thing I ever did!! I did my Master's in one year at Dowling and now absolutely LOVE my job! I'm an art teacher. I start my mornings at the HS, then get to travel to one of the elem schools where I have the Kindergarteners! They are fabulous!

As for coaching, I have noticed that a lot of districts like to have their teachers coach, rather than hire someone from the outside.

And as for going on a honeymoon and taking a week off of grad school, I think that would have been doable at my school since most classes only meet once a week, and you are allowed at least one absence!

The best job to have is one that you love! Good luck!

I know going back will be a great decision for me too. I just don't want my wedding to interfere with grad school or my first teaching job - although FH said he'd have no problem considering June of '06 in order to work my first teaching job in 9/06. We'll see how it works out. I want to know more about placement and such. Seems like my favorite specialties have the most difficult placement b/c the need for guidance counselors and US history teachers isn't great on LI. I wouldn't mind el ed though either. An accelorated program would be great - Queens is easier for me than Dowling b/c its public and b/c I live in western nassau. I so appreciate all the insight though.

Hee, hee, I hear ya about the 180 days. But, in corporate, it's also long days (no such thing as a 9-5 anymore), after new years my next DAY off is Memorial day! Pay is not as great as a lot of educators think it is (I'd easily get a raise by becoming a teacher and I know many other's who make under $40k a year in corporate america), decent benefits, holiday pay, etc are becoming tough to find in the corporate sector and there is rarely any appreciation and everything's the bottom line and everyone you work with will generally stab you in the back to get themselves ahead.

I know sometimes kids can be tough, but the one's you do reach are worth it all time and time again. I see it at the gym. My best x-mas present was a big hug from one of my High School kids (he was actually going to make his mom get the coaches gifts - he thought he had one more class before x-mas). Kids are great. I also learned in grad school when I was a career counselor, sometimes you think your not getting through to a kid, and it's actually just the opposite. I got a huge thank you once from a college kid in my Pre-Employment Prep class who I thought slept through the class - he got a job offer and practically swung me through the air he was so greatful for my help with his resume and helping him prepare for his interview - who knew?????

If I were you, I would make an appt with graduate education advisors at the schools you would consider... they can evaluate your transcripts and tell you exactly what you would need to get where you want to go.

I was lucky... I got in before they changed the certification laws, which was last Feb. I think a lot of the new rules are very confusing and a bit fuzzy, so I would try to find out from the grad schools...

Also, my FSIL just started her grad school program to be a guidance counselor and loves it!

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Posted by nov04LIbride

You will need a second undergrad. degree to do any teaching (other than the guidance counseling, which doesn't require a specific undergrad. degree). The Master's in college personnel won't help you out too much, though you could try looking for a job on LI at a college--I have one, and they are hard to come by and competitive, but they are out there. It would entail at least 2 years more for another undergrad. degree for el. ed. or social studies. Good luck!

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Does this apply to Queens' accelorated program... maybe they incorporate some of it, b/c they do have this 1 year program. Guess I'll be making some phone calls . Thank you though for all the info - gives me a good starting point. Guidance counselor is certainly my first choice though.

You are all so helpful. Keep the info coming!

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Posted by Mrs.Ptobe

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Posted by nov04LIbride

You will need a second undergrad. degree to do any teaching (other than the guidance counseling, which doesn't require a specific undergrad. degree). The Master's in college personnel won't help you out too much, though you could try looking for a job on LI at a college--I have one, and they are hard to come by and competitive, but they are out there. It would entail at least 2 years more for another undergrad. degree for el. ed. or social studies. Good luck!

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Does this apply to Queens' accelorated program... maybe they incorporate some of it, b/c they do have this 1 year program. Guess I'll be making some phone calls . Thank you though for all the info - gives me a good starting point. Guidance counselor is certainly my first choice though.

You are all so helpful. Keep the info coming!

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1 year accelerated is for the Master degree. Here are the prerequisites:
Admission Requirements
All students must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or the foreign equivalent. They must have completed: (1) a major in the area in which they wish to become certified; (2) one year of college-level study, or its equivalent in a language other than English; and (3) an undergraduate education sequence (including student teaching or its equivalent). Students should also have a cumulative and departmental average of at least B (i.e., 3.0).

There are some of the city fellowship programs that do hire teachers without the state wide requirements for the city districts that need more teachers--you could try those. I know they don't pay too well but it is a start. I am an advisor for this so I know about the Long Island districts and programs.

That is great info. Thank you so much.

Well, I was browsing Monster.com and found an interesting position at a college in Nassau that is looking for something like an admissions counselor. I know from my other master's that admissions is one of the lower paid areas at the colleges, but can be a ton of fun b/c you are traveling to high schools and such. So I mentioned it to FH, and he told me that I don't need to make a ton of $$$, he just wants me to do something that'll make me happy and that if I want to apply for higher ed positions (as long as they are on long island), he's cool. So maybe at least that may give me some options until the Guidance Counselor position of my dreams becomes available and through the other master's program. Thoughts???

Thank you guys again, just venting and putting this in writing (typing) has helped me figure things out in my little head!

Assuming you went back to school to get a teaching degree and fulfilled all the requirements, working on Long Island, you would probably need to put off having a baby until you were tenured. It takes 3 years to be tenured and most school districts look down on maternity leaves while untenured.

Loan forgiveness is something, I beleive, that only new york city schools offer. Most districts on Long Island, even the crumby ones, aren't that hard up for teachers. Places like Brownsville, Brklyn, the Bronx etc. are places that offer that.

I've looked into many of these things myslef. I worked for NYC for 4 years and now i'm on LI.

Good luck!