My wife has been home with our first child for the past year and is considering what she wants to do when she joins the workforce again. She is really contemplating getting experience as a teacher and after a few years consider going back to school to be an school counselor.

She has her degree in Psychology and graduated with a high GPA (3.75+). However, she did not obtain a teaching certificate while at Texas A&M. She is looking into getting her teaching certificate online and would be interested in teaching middle school science. Do you see her having trouble getting a job since she would have a alternative certification? Do any teachers recommend one program over another?

Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated.

My fiancé is alternatively certified and is working on full certification and her masters through a program at A&M. She was able to get a job, but it wasn't easy. Your wife will have an easier time finding a job because schools are always running short on math and science teachers. My fiancé said there are lots of programs out there and depending on where your at the ESC region you live in may have a program for her. A&M has a program for math and science teachers, but we don't know much about it. It may be just for u degrads. The Texas A&M College of Education and Human Development would be a good place to start. My fiancé did want me to tell you that there are some school districts that will not hire alternatively certified teachers, but it's not that many.

My wife got her alt cert over night school in one summer from ACT.

Not sure there are any 100% online classes. Some districts, Frisco ISD north of Dallas, will not hire alt cert teachers. My wife probably applied for 50 positions before she finally got a job, and she did have some experience working at one of the elementary schools in college station during college.

Your wife may have to get certified, work as a substitue for a year to get some experience, and then apply for a fulltime job.

I did a 100% online program online through www.texasteachers.org program. $295 up front and $4000 once hired. it was painless, but if she'll need assistance actually learning I wouldn't suggest it.

I did mine through iteachtexas.com 8 years back. The program was flexible enough but she better be a quick thinker once she is in the classroom. That may go for all teachers but it is an assault of the senses on day one when you are hired. You could imagine how much one-to-one instruction happens online. Your wife will need to be very self directed.
All in all, if you are motivated to do it then go for it. Teaching can be very rewarding for all the right reasons as long as finances are okay.

Speaking from someone in a "traditional" certification route, I didn't see anything covered you would miss by going through an ACP, but such programs are viewed negatively by many "superior" districts. But the traditional program here at A&M is pretty much a joke. But what the hell do I know, I've applied at around 40 districts this year and still haven't gotten a job. The fact that she's science helps immensely (fact of life: no one wants history teachers unless you know how to make their football team win a state championship).

[This message has been edited by Kampfers (edited 8/17/2012 11:44p).]

I also went through Texas Teachers and am now going into my second year of teaching. If I had to do it differently, I probably would have selected a program where I could have student taught. Having just lecture seminars and having to do everything on my own made for a brutal first year. I really could have used some time with a mentor to model what should (and shouldn't) be done in a classroom before being thrust head first into my own classroom. Even though I was a long-term sub before going into my first year, I felt it did little to prepare me for the realities of being an actual teacher on the payroll.

That said, things will be very different this year for me. I have an entirely different outlook and am a lot more direct and organized going into the coming school year. I also don't have certification tests hanging over my head as well as a million other little things that first-year ACP teachers must face.

Good luck!

Here are my suggestions:
1) Work on certifications (content exams, preferably science composite if possible, and multiple levels, again, if possible, ESL certification). Make yourself marketable.
2) Apply online to all districts you are willing to work in, use any connections in those districts and don't be afraid to email resumes to campus principal's. Include that you would be willing to do long-term substitute position.
3) Work on getting the full-time certified job the first couple of years. Do a great job in that and that will set you up to open
doors as a counselor. I do think going the counselor route later is a very good idea, not enough counseling applicants.
4) Most districts do not hold the alternative cert against applicants but experienced teachers will receive preference. That should not discourage her.

[This message has been edited by 58-7 (edited 8/18/2012 9:37p).]

I tried the alternative certification route 11 years ago & got thrown into a classroom with ZERO experience...this was before NCLB & highly qualified teachers. I quit after a year to go get my masters. After getting my masters I decided to go the traditional route of teacher certification through a university & student teach. This made teaching SO much better the second time! While I was getting certified I worked as a paraprofessional, then I student taught for a semester. There are things you learn in a classroom from your mentor & your students that you JUST can't learn anywhere else...DEFINITELY not online or from a professor. Teaching is very experiential. Whereas I hated it the first year during my alternative certification, I now love it & have multiple certifications in 2 states (soon to be 3...we're moving to Hawaii in October).

teaching has gotten harder to get into across the board, alternative certification or not. a lot of districts are looking for generalist certifications for their middle school teachers. getting sped certification is a plus. the high school science composite and math certifications are golden.

high school science is not golden. Then again I stopped looking for that area two years ago. Tried for a year or two before that without luck.

two years ago a lot of districts just weren't hiring at all. there are other issues if a science composite just isn't cutting it. i've seen a shift locally (rgv) in science hiring. a few high schools are only hiring those with science composites because they can shift you at any time to another science if your benchmark/EOC scores aren't up to snuff.

high school science IS golden. I'm certified in HS Science Composite, Middle School Science, and will take Ag, Sped, and Generalist MS before I formally apply for my certification. The last month or so I've gotten 2 or so calls a day from various school districts around the state wanting me to come in and interview. I was told that yes, they do like the Generalist certification at middle school level because while they are hurting for science teachers, they like the option of moving you around to something else in a year or two if they need to.

I also went through Texas Teachers and the online course is a bit like defensive driving. I took TONS of notes, though. I started out subbing just to make some money, and discovered I LOVE teaching. It definitely takes a special something, though, so if she's never taught before, encourage her to start subbing to see if she likes it. I had to do first grade once and wanted to kill myself - I'm MUCH happier in the higher grades and have a hell of a lot more respect for elementary school teachers!

If I wanted to transfer my cert. to Texas, I'd probably have to re-take all the tests... yes?

looks like "maybe"

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5372

Yes, of course, which is stupid. I'm certified 7-12 in Math and Biology in TN and have a Master's degree. Why in the heck should I have to take all the tests again?

Usually transfers have to retake the tests but dont have to go through a certification program. Content test+ ppr

Zoo guy - you could get a job with your out of state certificate but it would be probationary. You would have one year to take and pass the Texas equivalent.
I start student teaching this Monday, and I am getting nervous.

Rob, no worries. Pm me if you need some pointers about student teaching.

Sister, wife, and several cousins have done iTeachTexas. It isn't too expensive and is 100% online. A lot of school will let you "intern" as you are getting your certificate so you can get paid and also cover your student teaching period. They will send a person to observe you 3 times. We were very happy with the program.

quote:

---

I start student teaching this Monday, and I am getting nervous.

---

I've never had my own classroom, but as a long term sub in ISS, here's a piece of advice: Lay down the law early and hard. You can always back off later, but if you start out easy on them, you will never regain the upper hand. They're like wild dogs - they smell fear and will use it to their advantage

I sound like I hated teaching, but I didn't. Those kids are funny, curious, sassy, and challenging, but always entertaining!

I hated teaching, due to poor administration and even lower pay (started out at $29,500 in TN).

But, yes, lay down the law. Also, don't try to be the kids friend. You are there to teach, they are there to learn.

Also, sarcasm works well with HS students.