Would becoming a teacher later in life be challenging?
April 30, 2009 11:48 AM Subscribe
I'm thinking about going back to school for an education degree, and wondering if it would be tough finding a job as an early 30's newly degreed teacher.
When I was fresh out of high school I went to Ohio State for about a year and a half, but I wasn't at all in the right frame of mind for college at the time and it didn't work out.
I've since built a pretty successful web consulting business that cleared low six figures in profit last year. While the money is decent, and working from home is nice, I'm not sure if it's what I want to do forever. I'd like to go back to school, but I'm already 27, so I'd probably be at least 31 before I was finished. I'm not sure what schools would think of hiring a new teacher at that age. I would want to teach at the 7-12 grade level, either english or social studies. Most new teachers when I was in high school were in the 22-26 age range, and I kind of get the impression this is standard.
On the plus side I've spent some time coaching (two years head coach of a cross country program, two years as head coach of a tennis program), and would definitely like to coach as well as teach, so I'd like to think that would help. Thanks!
When I was fresh out of high school I went to Ohio State for about a year and a half, but I wasn't at all in the right frame of mind for college at the time and it didn't work out.
I've since built a pretty successful web consulting business that cleared low six figures in profit last year. While the money is decent, and working from home is nice, I'm not sure if it's what I want to do forever. I'd like to go back to school, but I'm already 27, so I'd probably be at least 31 before I was finished. I'm not sure what schools would think of hiring a new teacher at that age. I would want to teach at the 7-12 grade level, either english or social studies. Most new teachers when I was in high school were in the 22-26 age range, and I kind of get the impression this is standard.
On the plus side I've spent some time coaching (two years head coach of a cross country program, two years as head coach of a tennis program), and would definitely like to coach as well as teach, so I'd like to think that would help. Thanks!
The age wasn't an issue in Father's experience: he got certified and went from research (he had plenty of college-level teaching experience, though) to teaching high school physics at the age of 50, and was hired at one of the top schools in the city right away. He's a foreigner too, with a funny accent and an unpronounceable name--I'm pointing this out in order to say that as long as you are good at what you do, age is the last thing that should make a difference. Dad really, really loves his job now.
posted by halogen at 12:03 PM on April 30, 2009
posted by halogen at 12:03 PM on April 30, 2009
When going through school to become a Social Studies Teacher (I did not finish student teaching and now enjoy my job in a very unrelated field) I was told that I would not be able to find a job in Western New York (which is similar to Eastern Ohio in many ways). Oh, I could find a job in Las Vegas. I could find a job in South Carolina. But not near home.
When working on my MA in history, I would have class with lots of Social Studies Ed. people. They had become certified three or four years prior and were still looking for work. The lucky one's could sub. But there were not enough available positions still.
If you want an idea of what teaching is like, see if you can teach some web design at a community college or in adult ed. You will most likely have more freedom in what and how you teach there as opposed to a public secondary school, but you can get a taste of what teaching is like.
posted by munchingzombie at 12:16 PM on April 30, 2009
When working on my MA in history, I would have class with lots of Social Studies Ed. people. They had become certified three or four years prior and were still looking for work. The lucky one's could sub. But there were not enough available positions still.
If you want an idea of what teaching is like, see if you can teach some web design at a community college or in adult ed. You will most likely have more freedom in what and how you teach there as opposed to a public secondary school, but you can get a taste of what teaching is like.
posted by munchingzombie at 12:16 PM on April 30, 2009
Do you work on the technical side of web consulting? You should look into the requirements to teaching tech in your state - often there are a different set of regs for tech teachers.
The above posters are correct - social studies/humanities teachers are sort of a dime a dozen. It's pretty easy to get a BA these days, and if you don't have a clear career path, it's pretty easy to tack on a BEd. This leads to many, many extra teachers.
I teach tech, and it's great to teach the "fun" class. You should look into it. You don't need to be an expert in all areas - but some relevant work experience will likely be required.
posted by davey_darling at 12:29 PM on April 30, 2009
The above posters are correct - social studies/humanities teachers are sort of a dime a dozen. It's pretty easy to get a BA these days, and if you don't have a clear career path, it's pretty easy to tack on a BEd. This leads to many, many extra teachers.
I teach tech, and it's great to teach the "fun" class. You should look into it. You don't need to be an expert in all areas - but some relevant work experience will likely be required.
posted by davey_darling at 12:29 PM on April 30, 2009
My sister went back to school to get her degree in education when she was 40 (she had received a 2 year community college degree in human development when she was 20). She specialized in reading and found a position in her city (upstate NY) within a year after graduating. YMMV but I see her as one success story that might be relevant to you. I know that at one point she mentioned that special education teachers were in high demand but this was over 10 years ago. Good luck!
posted by bluesky43 at 12:35 PM on April 30, 2009
posted by bluesky43 at 12:35 PM on April 30, 2009
I think your age is probably less of an issue than your subject. There are way too many English teachers and not nearly enough math/science teachers, at least that's the impression one gets from school district hiring needs.
This may be due to the fact that the secondary education market is vastly overrepresented with women, and women tend to be under-represented in math and science. Your gender isn't apparent from your profile, but if you're looking to stand out, being yet another female English teacher is the wrong way to do it. Being a female science teacher, or being male, is. Yeah, gender discrimination in hiring and all that, but it's true.
posted by valkyryn at 12:38 PM on April 30, 2009
This may be due to the fact that the secondary education market is vastly overrepresented with women, and women tend to be under-represented in math and science. Your gender isn't apparent from your profile, but if you're looking to stand out, being yet another female English teacher is the wrong way to do it. Being a female science teacher, or being male, is. Yeah, gender discrimination in hiring and all that, but it's true.
posted by valkyryn at 12:38 PM on April 30, 2009
This may not be representative, but at least one person (a woman, too, for what it's worth) that I've known in Ohio with a BS Ed. and a science background was unable to find work, so she's now in a special ed Master's program, and still not working as a teacher beyond occasional subbing. I'm confident that she'll find work after she graduates, but there was definitely a period of despair and factory work after she finished her BS.
posted by pullayup at 12:47 PM on April 30, 2009
posted by pullayup at 12:47 PM on April 30, 2009
Response by poster: davey_darling: I'm actually more in content production, optimization, and traffic generation. While I know a little tech it's not my strong suit.
valkyryn: I'm male, probably would actually lean more towards social studies, but figured I'd put English out there as well since I could handle it. Math and science are unfortunately not subjects I'd enjoy teaching.
posted by imabanana at 1:34 PM on April 30, 2009
valkyryn: I'm male, probably would actually lean more towards social studies, but figured I'd put English out there as well since I could handle it. Math and science are unfortunately not subjects I'd enjoy teaching.
posted by imabanana at 1:34 PM on April 30, 2009
I don't know about Ohio specifically, but often there's a much greater need for middle school teachers than high school.
posted by rikschell at 2:58 PM on April 30, 2009
posted by rikschell at 2:58 PM on April 30, 2009
wow... I could have written this. Like, yesterday. (just paid off an old checkstop I didn't even know about today, in fact)
Around here, I've been told English teachers have an easier time finding a job if they also can teach basic literacy classes. That may be the case where you live as well, particularly if the population is heavily below the poverty line.
posted by Kellydamnit at 3:45 PM on April 30, 2009
Around here, I've been told English teachers have an easier time finding a job if they also can teach basic literacy classes. That may be the case where you live as well, particularly if the population is heavily below the poverty line.
posted by Kellydamnit at 3:45 PM on April 30, 2009
I actually just got a job offer for junior high social studies in Mass. It's definitely doable, just keep a high GPA and make sure the college you attend offers an in-depth student-teaching experience. I know that one of the newer trends in social studies education is an increase in "world/global studies" coursework at the junior high and high school level, which includes the modern world, not just history. This is a class that many current social studies educators don't really feel comfortable teaching, and I think that preparing yourself in college to teach such a class would be a great benefit to you. Good luck!
posted by NHlove at 6:59 PM on April 30, 2009
posted by NHlove at 6:59 PM on April 30, 2009
As others have said, I think your subject, grade level, and location will matter much more than your age.
If you will remain in your current location (Ohio?), find out if there are shortages in specific fields or grade levels. If you're open to moving, you may be more likely to get work. In general, special education and the STEM (science, tech, engineering, math) teachers are in highest demand. My impression is that middle and high school teachers are also in more demand than elementary teachers; urban and rural more than suburban. In my home state certified bilingual teachers are also in higher demand. I don't know if that's true in Ohio or in certain parts of Ohio.
Good luck!
posted by kochenta at 7:02 PM on April 30, 2009
If you will remain in your current location (Ohio?), find out if there are shortages in specific fields or grade levels. If you're open to moving, you may be more likely to get work. In general, special education and the STEM (science, tech, engineering, math) teachers are in highest demand. My impression is that middle and high school teachers are also in more demand than elementary teachers; urban and rural more than suburban. In my home state certified bilingual teachers are also in higher demand. I don't know if that's true in Ohio or in certain parts of Ohio.
Good luck!
posted by kochenta at 7:02 PM on April 30, 2009
If you're open to moving, you may be more likely to get work.
This is important--I'm fairly sure that limiting her search to a single city and its suburbs was the reason my friend was unable to find a job. Think about whether you're willing to relocate if you need to.
posted by pullayup at 7:12 PM on April 30, 2009
This is important--I'm fairly sure that limiting her search to a single city and its suburbs was the reason my friend was unable to find a job. Think about whether you're willing to relocate if you need to.
posted by pullayup at 7:12 PM on April 30, 2009
Not only open to moving, but open to teaching anywhere in your area. I know people now who say "I can't get a teaching job" in my area, but it really means "I can't get a teaching job in a nice area, and I don't want to work in the worst neighborhoods in the city."
posted by Kellydamnit at 9:48 PM on April 30, 2009
posted by Kellydamnit at 9:48 PM on April 30, 2009
I agree that your likelihood of getting a job in the specialty that you want is dependent on where you will teach. I have known a few people who got teaching certifications in PA recently and have had varying degrees of success finding jobs.
One of them student taught for a couple years hoping to get a job in the rural area where he lived. The turnover was pretty low at the schools there and he applied but he didn't get a job. He ended up moving to the Philadelphia area where the first school he talked to pretty much just asked when he could start.
My wife got her teaching certification not too long ago, and it seems like for most places that I have looked the only thing that would get you a job in a large variety of schools is a Special Education certification. It seems like every school district that I look at needs Special Ed teachers.
So I guess the upshot is that if you want to teach English or Social Studies you might have to start your career by moving to someplace that may be less desirable to teach, then moving to a "better" school as you get experience. If you want to have a wider choice of places to go, then Special Ed (or Reading Specialists also seem to be in need many places) would seem to be a good choice.
Some of this depends on your particular area, of course. Good luck!
posted by jefeweiss at 7:12 AM on May 1, 2009
One of them student taught for a couple years hoping to get a job in the rural area where he lived. The turnover was pretty low at the schools there and he applied but he didn't get a job. He ended up moving to the Philadelphia area where the first school he talked to pretty much just asked when he could start.
My wife got her teaching certification not too long ago, and it seems like for most places that I have looked the only thing that would get you a job in a large variety of schools is a Special Education certification. It seems like every school district that I look at needs Special Ed teachers.
So I guess the upshot is that if you want to teach English or Social Studies you might have to start your career by moving to someplace that may be less desirable to teach, then moving to a "better" school as you get experience. If you want to have a wider choice of places to go, then Special Ed (or Reading Specialists also seem to be in need many places) would seem to be a good choice.
Some of this depends on your particular area, of course. Good luck!
posted by jefeweiss at 7:12 AM on May 1, 2009
I agree about the tech aspect. (Business is considered career tech in my area.) In my state, career tech teachers do not even need a bachelor's degree to teach--just a modicum of relevant experience, plus enrollment in New Teacher Institute which will eventually lead to a BA. You do it concurrently to your job.
posted by FergieBelle at 10:41 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by FergieBelle at 10:41 AM on May 1, 2009
As somebody who is over 30 and just started a teaching career, I can tell you that your age will not be a problem. In fact, it will be a benefit. I've found that employers are HAPPY to find a potential teacher that is not the tradition 23-year-old. Somebody older has more experience working as a professional, has an easier time dealing with classroom discipline issues, and is more able to solve problems on their own (administrators love teachers that solve their own problems!). I have been very happy with the career switch and I know that my previous experience has definitely helped what is often a tough 1st year.
The fact that you are interested in English or Social Studies will alter your job prospects. They are the two most-pursued areas in secondary teaching, so there is never a shortage of potential hires. However, your previous experience (at 1st-year teacher pay) would be seen as a benefit. That said, I would be prepared to having to move to the job you find. I ended up moving to Alaska, though this was more about my looking for a good salary than it was a necessity. But I would not have been able to find a job in the community where I was living at the time -- a small college town with a glut of potential Social Studies teachers.
If you do decide to stay in Ohio, another thing to keep in mind is local population levels. Are they declining? If so, how fast? As the newest hire, you will be the first one let go until you reach tenure if student population drops. Good Luck!
posted by cronology at 12:39 PM on May 5, 2009
The fact that you are interested in English or Social Studies will alter your job prospects. They are the two most-pursued areas in secondary teaching, so there is never a shortage of potential hires. However, your previous experience (at 1st-year teacher pay) would be seen as a benefit. That said, I would be prepared to having to move to the job you find. I ended up moving to Alaska, though this was more about my looking for a good salary than it was a necessity. But I would not have been able to find a job in the community where I was living at the time -- a small college town with a glut of potential Social Studies teachers.
If you do decide to stay in Ohio, another thing to keep in mind is local population levels. Are they declining? If so, how fast? As the newest hire, you will be the first one let go until you reach tenure if student population drops. Good Luck!
posted by cronology at 12:39 PM on May 5, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you are determined to follow through on this, I do think being a little bit older will help you, but it won't help enough that I would spend all the money to finish your education in this field.
posted by shesbookish at 11:54 AM on April 30, 2009