Do you want a career in education? Pro tips for reaching that goal
IF YOU’RE PREPARED TO DEDICATE YOUR ALL AND OVERCOME CHALLENGES, IT CAN BE VERY REWARDING
To help those of you interested in an education career, we talked to professionals from various levels, asking them for their best advice and predictions:
Elementary school teacher. Michelle Warner, who teaches second grade at a public school in suburban Virginia, offers advice about work-life balance, which undoubtedly affects the quality of your teaching:
“Make sure you set boundaries for your teaching responsibilities so that you don’t allow your personal life to become neglected. Happy people, who engage in activities for themselves after school and on weekends, make much more interesting and energetic teachers.
Despite the stifling obsession with alignment, objectives, and assessment in our schools, (especially the underperforming ones,) try to find ways to integrate creativity and opportunities for unique self expression into your classroom. It will help you avoid burnout and foster self confidence and joy in your students.”
College professor. Barry Shain (the author’s father), teaches political science at Colgate University, a liberal arts college in upstate New York. Having taught for 30 years at the college level, he actually advises against getting into the profession now:
“Unless you’re born wealthy, are really extremely good at what you do (i.e among the 10 or so best in any particular year in your field), interested in a field that is not rapidly losing undergraduate majors (as are English and most of the humanities), or more likely all three conditions obtain, in a world in which the employment market is likely to be shrinking, possibly rapidly, over the next 20 or 30 years, you really should think about doing something other than college teaching as your chosen career path.”
Urban high school teacher. Lindsay Pushies has been teaching in inner-city Chicago for the last six years: two at a traditional public high school (through Teach for America) and four at a charter high school. Here’s what she would tell aspiring educators:
“Innovate often and fail well. As a country, we have not figured out how to ensure that all of our children are afforded the same educational opportunities. Teaching has always been and will always be personal, emotional, complex and challenging. The stakes are too high to do anything else.”
Teaching association director. When asked for his advice, Gary Beckner, executive director of the American Association of Educators, said:
“There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ place for educators. Examine what drives you and match your vision for education with a school that fits that model. Public charter schools and online programs are giving teachers flexibility and paths to innovate. Consider all of your options and where students need you most.”