Career change that affects wedding time/date - teachers I could use your input again

Hi all,

Well since I last posted regarding this a lot of research has been done.

If I go for teaching, I would seek the alternative program where I would teach in an underpriviledged low income NYC district (Bronx and Central Brooklyn are where the assignments are). With this program, you get your NYS certification in 2 years while teaching and I've heard that teaching in these areas where the need for teachers is great can result in forgiveness of past student loans, plus your total financial contribution to your Masters and NYS certification is about $4,000. Not too bad.

The other option I'm exploring has little to do with teaching, but more to do with money and flexability to have a family when we are ready. I've been seeking info on Court Reporting/Capioning for the deaf. I would chose captioning as I'd feel a bit more intrisic rewards from doing so. Since these jobs are like 2-3 days a week as a freelancer and around $100k or more a year, I would up the amount of hours I put in to teach gymnastics/spend time with my family when the time comes and raise my children myself rather than daycare or my mom should she be so generous.

2 options 2 different sets of challenges. I gave you above what I'd like to do... reality is as follows...

I work a HORRIBLE 9-5:30 job. The woman directly over me is the WICKED WITCH reincarnated. She yells and screams, belittles everyone there (there's 11 employees), and it's just a horrible environment. I'm supposed to be promoted next month out of the mundane job I have there, but now the CEO is really liking me where I am b/c he feels I'm good at it. Even though we meet like every week to discuss all the problems - he thinks I should want to manage the department I'm in - which I don't and I'd really be even more accountable to witchy-poo.

Anyway, after 5:30 pm I'd have to go out to Commack to go to Court reporting school until 10pm. That's monday's and wednesdays's for the spring b/c I've already commited myself to teach gymnastics tuesday and thursdays. I would discontinue teaching gymnastics after June until the program was done. I see this as a very tedious schedule and the schools run into the $20k area. The only aid I'm entitled to at this point is more student loans since I have a master's degree and used all my state aid years ago. My job drains me and I don't see myself being able to take on both school and this job. However, I need benefits so I'm not sure what my options are.

The other option - teaching in NYC... my dad is concerned about me doing this b/c he's afraid I'd get hurt working in these areas. I think he's a bit closed minded, but all the same, he's making me paranoid.

Also, if I do this - the wedding cannot be during school or if we were to do like a holdiay weekend (aka labor day weeken or columbus day weekend) the honey moon would have to be deferred until winter break (the february one) which I really don't have to much trouble with that concept to be honest, just don't know how I'd plan a wedding with either schedule being so hectic.

Sorry for my rambling... FH is getting VERY annoyed with me - I kept him up b/c I was crying all night about this delemma and then I woke him up complaining that my bills are related to the house, not things I've bought myself and then went off again about this career thing.

Again, sorry for the rambling... I obviously have no back bone... any kind words? I need to stop stressing before I end up with no job, and no FH...

Ok well let me give you some background first....I'm originally from LI - went to undergrad at SUNY Cortland to become a teacher. My FH is a yr older and went to Temple Law(in Philadelphia) my Sr year . For the past 2 years I have been teaching in the Inner City of Philadelphia. From everything I have heard/been told by friends of mine in NYC who have taught and student taught there it is very similar and honestly I HATE IT. District that are so large as NYC and Philly are horribly run/ The administration is a joke. Schools are constantly being shut down and these principals just get bounced around instead of being fired. I know I sound very bitter but it is just been a rough two years. There have been shootings in the area around my school and there is little to no support for the teachers. Now don't get me wrong there are up sides. The people I work with are fabulous and I have a good time. But if I were to do it all over again I would have found a different setting. I know there are a lot of ups ($, masters, etc. ) but I think your best bet would be to take night classes and work in a safe job before putting yourself in a danger.

I honestly though I would be the kind of person who could handle the situation but it is the most frustrating thing I have ever done.


One last thing this may not be important to you but when I went to teach in Philly I had all hopes of teaching a younger grade figuring how bad could it be? unfortunately that DOES NOT happen. I promise you will get a middle school/ high school position and the middle school is the roughest years. I taught 6th grade last year and am teaching 7th this year.

I know I rambled along and might not have made much sense but I hoped I helped a little. Feel free to FM anytime :)

Sounds like a real tough choice for you, but I think you are doing the right thing by weighing everything out, and we can't help the crying and contemplating.....it is just very hard. Again, and I wish you a lot of luck while making your very important decision. Think about what you would be more happier doing. People that are teachers (most of them) are really made for that and put their all into their work and it shows.

Good Luck!

P.S. I have a friend from college who works in a low income neighborhood in Brooklyn and she LOVES her job!

I had a career change 5 years ago to teaching. I went to Queens College (in an excelerated program) and got my NYS license in 1 YEAR! It was a full time program and a lot of work but so worth it! It was about $5K and I was teaching on Long Island that September and got my master's 6 months later. It was the best thing I ever did!

Whenever I meet people who want to go for teaching I tell them to run to Queens College and get into that program!

As far as the inner city schools I know that I wouldn't be happy there but that is just me.

Also, if you go for teaching you would have to work around the calendar b/c as a first year it wouldn't be good to take time off. There is a week in February that might work.

Good luck to you!

I just also had a career change. I am actually leaving my first real accounting job to start student teaching in 2 weeks.

I am hoping to be certified by the summer, and then to land a job in September.

I would not take a job in the city. Besides the awful stories I have heard about those types of schools, the commute would be horrible!!!

The 2 yr Certification program sounds great but just keep in mind that those 2 years will NOT be easy. I do not work in an inner city school but I have friends that do and went to grad. school with women who work there as well. It is an extremely tough and time consuming job.
Not so say that you won't love it bc I know people who work there and do love their job but it may cause you a lot of stress so be prepared. JMO

First off

Personally I worked as a legal secy for 5 years & then a few other admin jobs in NYC. I made good money, but was not satisfied with what I did.

I decided to go back to school to get my Masters in Teaching (my undergrad is in Psych). I went to Hunter (city school, so fairly reasonable).

You ARE able to teach in a Brooklyn/NYC CATHOLIC/Private school with your bachelors. The pay IS definitely a LOT less than public schools, but at least you get the experience teaching, you are going to school at night on your Masters and you are happier.

Feel free to FM me w/ any q's. I finished my Masters in 3 years (at night/after school) & w/b receiving my cert shortly (its been filed). I'm now looking in public school.

I say follow your heart......

Hi there :) I'm in the Fellows program (that is what you were describing right?). I teach 4th grade in East New York Brooklyn - this is my 3rd year teaching. My first year was definitely hard, and I am in an awesome building. My principal and assistant principal are amazing and supportive of their staff. This is not the case throughout the city, so that might be one reason it is hard to keep teachers in the city.

If you were to start teaching next school year, planning for a wedding in the first few months would be really stressful. The first few months of your career are called survival, and everyone goes through it.

All of that being said, I am glad I went through the program, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job.
If you want any info about the Fellows program, just FM and I'll tell you anything that I know. :) Good luck with your decision.

I teach in the South Bronx and have been doing it since '96. My first year was horrible but we got a better principal after the first year and the situation improved a little. In '99 I transferred to a well-run school in the same neighborhood. Not all city schools are poorly run and dangerous. Of course, it can be hard to know what you're getting into until you're already in it. But I have come across lots of great kids and while I'm not crazy about some of my current colleagues, I've also worked with some great people (including some very competent administrators). I wouldn't rule out NYC.

I got married in October (took 2 days off) and we went on our honeymoon over the Christmas vacation. I am glad we did it that way- it gave us something to look forward to after the wedding.

I work in a school district on Long Island. I know that not all school in NYC are in bad areas. They have career fairs where you can interview for specific schools. They also put you on a list, and any city school can call you. I was actually getting calls from many different NYC schools into October! There are also Catholic schools (in NYC and LI) that do not require certification, only a bachelor's degree, however they pay significantly less.

I think freelancing is awesome, I am thinking about doing that myself in the future. The only drawback is that there is usually no insurance or benefits if you are a freelancer, but if your FH has that, then it probably wouldn't be a problem.

As for wedding date: I chose to do the summer because I don't want to get married on a Saturday and then have to go to work on monday. As an untenured teacher, they really don't like you taking days off. Also I would like to go on a long honeymoon (10 -14 days) which I couldn't do over any school vacation. The prices for weddings are more expensive in the summer, so we are doing a Sunday afternoon, which I don't mind at all. We can go on a long honeymoon, and I have a whole month before the wedding to finish planning after school ends and then two weeks to relax after the HM before school starts!

WOW that was long, sorry!