calling all teachers...

I'm exploring other career options and I'm wondering about teaching...

Any info you can provide would be great. What grade/subject do you teach? How hard is it to get into a good/LI school? What type of education do you need? Is a masters necessary? Would it be possible to teach HS business classes based on life experience? How are teachers salaries - starting out and how much do they increase?

I know, lots of questions. But when we move back east, I may look to pursue this. Al's also mentioned teaching as a possibility - he wants to teach HS physics.

Thanks!

Re: calling all teachers...

Hi Lisa,

I'm a kindergarten teacher, and I passionately LOVE my job! Since I am exhausted and LAZY, here is a link to a conversation Anna and I had a few months ago about going into education. Hopefully it will answer some of your questions.

Career in Education
Read the end of the thread....

One question you had that was not addressed in the above thread is whether you can teach business from life experience. You can't do that in a LI public school, but I'm fairly certain that you can in private schools and in the city system. If you have a business undergrad degree, it would be relatively easy for you to get certified to teach it on the HS level. If you contact BOCES and give them a list of the degrees you have and classes you have taken, they will be able to tell you exactly what you need to do to become certified.

Oh, and you need to have a bachelor's degree to begin teaching, and must acquire a master's within 5 years of your first day in the classroom.

I hope I was somewhat helpful, and if I can answer any other questions, please let me know. .

Re: calling all teachers...

Thanks JennRenee - that was an informative thread. How long does it take to get tenure?

Anna mentioned starting salaries of $18,000 - is that accurate on average? do they stay so low? That be about a 75% salary cut -ouch!

Not that money is the only consideration, but that would be a standard of living change. Though I imagine that teaching would be a career that would be easier to continue when I have kids of my own.

Re: calling all teachers...

I would contact BOCES, because not sure if its 2003/2004. But they will be changing the standards. I think now you have 3 years to get your masters. And it does NOT become Permanent. You have to take continuing classes to keep up certification. That is what they told my husband. He is going back to get his masters in Business Education. He has a BA in Business. He will be doing his student teaching in Spring.

Re: calling all teachers...

About salary it depends on the degree you have. Starting salary for a public school is not 18,000.
Teaching assistants make more than that.
It varies from school distict. But most starting salary with a BA degree is about 35-38,000.
I dont know what it is for a private school. I know its lower.

Re: calling all teachers...

Tenure takes 3 years, and those years FLY by!

Starting salary at a private school is, on average, about $18,000. According to my contract (which is up this year) Master's level starting salary is $38,800. Most LI districts are close in their salary scales, with Nassau salaries being higher than Suffolk in most cases. 75% would be a HUGE pay cut, but if you get into a public school, it won't be that bad.

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WOW Diane! Your district has a great BA starting salary!!!

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what is your disticts for a BA???

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I'm not sure, but I know MA is $38,800, so it can't be that great.

I also didn't realize that the change in requirements was so huge! Master's after 3 years??? Whoa... glad that wasn't me... I'm so lazy it took me 3 years to START my master's...

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I couldnt believ it myself
WOW...our Master's starting salary is 45,000.

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what districts are you guys teaching in? any advice on the good/bad districts?

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Im in Longwood School District. I LOVE IT!!!!
Plus it is so close to my house

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my mom works in the Commack school district, wonder if that'd give me an in...

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I also work in Commack school district. What school is your mom in??

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JennRenee - My mom worked in the administration building at Hubbs for years. Now she's in the guidance office of the HS.

I graduated from Commack - what school are you in? I went to Indian Hollow for elementary.

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Lisa that 18,000 quote is ridiculous, but thats private schools like Jenn mentioned. I cant imagine making that type of salary, its a shame people are paid that much for their hard work ! and arent the private schools the ones charging all that tuition???
Thats one of the reasons I slacked off when i started my masters 5 years ago, i heard the salaries were 35K-ish and i didnt wanna take the pay cut OR get stuck in the Bronx somewhere teaching... But now that I moved out here, I am totally motivated to finish the degree (and I have a long way to go )


Good luck in whatever you choose ! GO FOR IT !

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I'm at North Ridge... what a small world!

Re: calling all teachers...

JennRenee, I was at north ridge two years ago for student teaching seminar. We checked out two Kindergarten rooms. Maybe one was yours? I know one room we looked at was a teacher who loops k-1 alot. Small world! I teach first grade.

Re: calling all teachers...

Girls I wanna TEACH SOO BAD !!! WAH WAH


I feel like I have so far to go... just venting.

(My annoying saga was on another post, dont wanna bore you, LOL)

I CANT WAIT ! I should have done this years ago !

You teachers here are all an inspiration !!

Gosh, my pregnant hormones are getting sappy on me !!! HUGS HUGS HUGS

Re: calling all teachers...

Wow Christy, that's SO funny! What a SMALL WORLD! I'm guessing you went to Dowling, because we host their seminars all the time.

I don't think you were in my room, because #1, I'm not a looper (don't care much for the idea, don't support the philosophy), and my room is alllllllll the way at the end of the building, the very last room in the very last hallway. If for some reason you walked all the way there, then you saw my room.

Where do you teach?