Anyone change careers to become a teacher?

[Princess Dot]

I have been thinking for some time about returning to school to become an elementary school teacher. I would probably attend one of those masters programs geared for second career teachers that already have a bachelors degree. Has anyone here ever done this?

How about any teachers out there? Would you encourage someone to enter your profession now that you have seen what the job is actually like? It would be a big step for this 39 year old mom of three! But to me, teaching can be a great job for people with families ( my Dad was a teacher) due to the hours and vacations etc, but how is the stress level?

Just to make you all think I am totally nuts I am already an R.N. (my college major) and then I went to law school shortly after and practiced as an attorney for 10 years. Now I am a SAHM for the moment, but I just don't want to go back to either one of these careers. Teaching was what I wanted to do first, but I got talked out of it as I was entering college and then I never went back to it as I got so involved in the course of study for nursing that it would have been too difficult at the time to start over with a new major.

Sooo, any thoughts?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well, I am applying to become a substitute teacher this year. I hope they call me!!! All I needed here to do that is 60 hours of college credit.

Sounds like you have the drive so go for it! I am 39 as well. Turning 40 in Feb...

 

[Princess Dot]

Good luck Mystery Machine!

Sometimes being a sub can be harder than being the regular teacher I think!

 

[Saffron]

I have Dot!

I have an AS in nursing, I'm a graduate nurse, but I never sat for the state boards. Stupid, stupid me, huh? Big regret in life!

I worked in the home care field for 13 years after getting my degree, then decided to go back to school to major in Elementary Education. I have one academic semester and one semester of student teaching left. You know what really struck me as funny that you will probably see ... you'll meet lots of students who left the medical field to go into teaching, and lots of teachers who left teaching to go into the medical field! LOL! I guess once a people person, always a people person.

We have the Master's program at our school that you are thinking about. The only thing I know about it is, in our college, it's one year teaching, BOOM! No prep! They figure life experiences and your academic background, decision making skills and problem solving will get you through the year - but the students have the college staff as well as a cooperating teacher in the school to work with all along. The students attend classes every Monday night. It sounds challanging to me, but an RN, a lawyer, and most of all, a mother of three small children already knows what a challange is!

Good luck to you! There are others on the board who have gone back to school as education majors too. Hopefully we can answer any questions you may have!

 

[Talking Hands]

Started out in nursing, went to medical research, SAHM, realtor(still am), substitute teacher, and now am going to sign language interpreting (probably educational)

 

[Princess Dot]

Thanks Saffron! Actually I like the fact that its really only one year of school since I feel like I've been going to school forever.

I think if I do decide to do it I may keep it quiet for a while. My parents will think I am crazy. I mean how many careers can you have?!? I do know a lot of teachers so I think I will speak to them about how they feel about their jobs. There are ups and downs to every field. It seems that when I work as a nurse I start to miss being a lawyer, then when I've worked as a lawyer I long for the days when I could wear scrubs to work and leave my worries at the hospital and go home to my family instead of staying up nights working on files.

Maybe I'm having a midlife crisis!

Hey Talking Hands, you reminded me that I also have my real estate brokers license! ( that was easy to get as an attorney in NY you can automatically qualify for the license, just pay the fee)Thats one more career option!!

 

[ZachnElli]

My cousin did. His parents paid for a big ivy league college education, he worked in the business world for a few years. Hated it. His in-laws were retiring and moving to Florida and his wife wanted to be near them. So they went. He went back to school and got a degree in teaching. His parents were not happy! I don't know why they are surprised, teaching runs in my family. Both grandparents were teachers and my dad (his uncle) was too (he's retired now). He's very happy and even works very part time for DW!

 

[DMickey28]

I want to do this!!

I have my BS in Hotel/Restaurat Management but worked my way through college with camps jobs and babysitting. I have always loved kids and I have always loved to teach and train people. I worked in the restaurant for a while. Loved the job, hated the hours. For the last few years I have being doing Insurance claims, both Health and Auto. I know I want to be a elem. Teacher and will do a Master's one year program geared towards people with a bachelor's. I am just waiting for DFiance's career to settle down. Probally looking at next September.

Good Luck and let me know what you learn!!!