Changing careers, eek!

[AshleyMWC]

I am 29 years old, and have decided to make a major career switch-- and of course, I am nervous as heck!! I have worked in the stock brokerage industry, basically since I graduated college, and I have now decided to go back to school to get my Special Education Teacher License. Yes, a drastic change, I know. I am working on (i.e. interviewed for) a job at an autistic school in our city, in order to get some experience before I apply for a regular classroom teaching position. I think I am most nervous about getting adjusted to the public school schedule of basically only having time off during the summer and at Christmas. I know the summers off will be nice, especially when we have children in a couple years. But is it sad that all I can think about is not being able to go to Disney in the off season?!? I know, it's trivial, but I can't stop thinking about it. I feel like it will be a very rewarding career in the end and I will definitely be happier in the day to day than I am now. I guess I am just looking for some reassurance from teachers and/or any other career switchers out there.

Sorry for posting with no real question or train of thought

 

[sbell111]

That is some change. Good luck.

 

[bballmom56]

Awww, that's great! My DD is doing the same thing! She returned this semester and has to take the education courses as well as special ed. courses. She also was able to get a PT job as an aide in a special ed. classroom in a local district, so it works out well. She really has a knack with the autistic kids.

Good luck!

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

Congrats to you for having the courage to make such a big change.

Best of luck to you.

Jason

 

[Luv Bunnies]

That is a major change but I'm sure you'll do great! Good special ed teachers are really in demand right now and there are lots of opportunities for those who are interested. Don't worry about making a career change. You're still young and now is the time to do it. I majored in PR and did that for about 6 years. Then I was an exec asst for a few years. Then I switched to HR part time after I had my kids. Eight years ago, after my oldest son was diagnosed on the autism spectrum, I starting working as a special ed preschool aide. I love the work and the kids and know that I could never go back to sitting at a desk all day. It's a very rewarding career area and I'm sure you'll love it too.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I changed careers at 25... not much younger than you...

It was the absolute best decision I have ever made in my life.

I didn't want to do it, because my parents and I both had spent so much money to pay me through school to get my degree, and then I HATED the line of work!

Finally, I just did it... couldn't be happier. I haven't "worked" in two years!

(And, if this ever, God forbid, falls through, I always have that to fall back on.)

 

[tasha99]

I'm 43 and working on my Masters to be speech language pathologist. I'm taking lots of early intervention and special ed classes as well. It was a little nerve wracking--especially waiting to see if I got into grad school, which was pretty competitive. So far I'm glad I made the switch, even at my age. I figure I'll work 20-30 more years, and for me, working in a law office was very unfulfilling.

 

[manning]

The advise is.....

work in the field you love and it will not feel like work.

Work in the field you love and you will be successful.

Work in the field you love and you will be happy.

 

[deva]

My DH switched careers to be a teacher too. Not being able to vacation in the off season is a major bummer! I take the kids a day or two early so we can make the most of long weekends. But given that this is just about the only downside, it was one of the best career moves he could've made.

 

[IDoDis]

I have been a special ed teacher for 18 years. You are entering into a tough career, which can be rewarding on some days and so very challenging on others. I've never regretted my career choice and wouldn't have it any other way. You'll get over the vacation issue. We take our Disney trips right when school gets out (near the end of May & early June). It's not so bad really. If this is a big deal for you, you could work in a district that has some year-round schools with the 3 week breaks every 14 weeks.

I spent some time working for a wonderful teacher program through our local university. The program pays all of your tuition, gives you several hours a week of support in your classroom from a resource teacher (that's what I was), and you get a teaching job right away. The first year you get 1/2 of a first year's teacher salary. The 2nd year, you get the full salary. It takes 2 years, but you end up with a Master's Degree in Special Ed. If you want info on it, send me a PM and I'll give you the links. We used to get interns applying and getting into the program from as far away as India.

 

[Micca]

The advise is.....

work in the field you love and it will not feel like work.

Work in the field you love and you will be successful.

Work in the field you love and you will be happy.

Manning pretty much summed it up. If you want to go to WDW off season you can always call-in sick. KIDDING!

 

[Cindy B]

Check for your states requirements closely and carefully.

In my state, many school require the teacher to double, triple or even quad certified for a special ed teacher. In some cases, the teacher needs to have certs in every subject as well as special ed. I just graduated last year and these requirements have been a huge change since 2006.

In my state a special ed cert is a K-12 cert that requires one-three separate Praxis exams (at $190) for just the Special Ed degree. In addition to the Special Ed cert and degree, many districts require you to have an additional coursework and Praxis in specific subjects such as Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, Elementary K-5, or specific high school only certs such as Physics, Bio, Calculus, etc..

It is very common here to see a Special Ed teacher posting that says "candidate must meet highly qualified status in Special Education and Middle School Math" Since these qualifications are more stringent, special ed jobs are in fact hard to come by.

In my state highly qualified status means at least 15-30 credits in another subject plus a passing Praxis in that subject. You can have 18-20 credits for a middle school teaching cert, but a full major 30 or more for a high school teaching cert.

I know many new graduate special ed teachers that have 3-5 teaching certs in addition to their special ed cert. My good friend has a Special Ed, Elementary K-5 and a Reading Specialist cert and is having a hard time finding a position due to the extra certification rules.

 

[2cats1kid]

I switched career at 26 and then again at 38! I currently run my own business working with children and it's the best thing I ever did. I earn probably 50% less and work probably 50% harder, but it is way more than 50% more fulfilling and fun.

 

[barkley]

Check for your states requirements closely and carefully.

In my state, many school require the teacher to double, triple or even quad certified for a special ed teacher. In some cases, the teacher needs to have certs in every subject as well as special ed. I just graduated last year and these requirements have been a huge change since 2006.

In my state a special ed cert is a K-12 cert that requires one-three separate Praxis exams (at $190) for just the Special Ed degree. In addition to the Special Ed cert and degree, many districts require you to have an additional coursework and Praxis in specific subjects such as Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, Elementary K-5, or specific high school only certs such as Physics, Bio, Calculus, etc..

It is very common here to see a Special Ed teacher posting that says "candidate must meet highly qualified status in Special Education and Middle School Math" Since these qualifications are more stringent, special ed jobs are in fact hard to come by.

In my state highly qualified status means at least 15-30 credits in another subject plus a passing Praxis in that subject. You can have 18-20 credits for a middle school teaching cert, but a full major 30 or more for a high school teaching cert.

I know many new graduate special ed teachers that have 3-5 teaching certs in addition to their special ed cert. My good friend has a Special Ed, Elementary K-5 and a Reading Specialist cert and is having a hard time finding a position due to the extra certification rules.

great advice

i'll also suggest you speak directly with the highest level advisor position within the education department at any college you are attending/considering attending.

the reality is lots of colleges and universities are making drastic cuts to programs-and education is getting some hard hits. sadly, sometimes even the professors who teach the courses are'nt up to speed on changes that are projected to be coming down over the next couple of years (which may not seem like it would impact you now, but given a teaching program can take 1 1/2-2 years even if you already have the applicable bachelors and all the pre-requisites for the credential you're going for it CAN make a huge difference).

just as an example-dh is in the education department at our local university. if you read the newspapers and what the college is publicly saying-there are going to massive reductions in class offerings and admissions for the next several years. what does'nt get spelled out to prospective students, and they don't learn about until they meet with an advisor IN the ed department (general academic advisors still are'nt totaly up to speed on it yet) is that while the university will publicly throw out a number of say 30% reduction in the number of new students they will admit-in some individual departments the number is 100%, and it's been that way for almost a year. we were VERY lucky to have gone through the formal application to the ed department ahead of when we needed to for dh. he was'nt planning on attending until 2 quarters later, and would'nt be taking ed courses for a few subsequent quarters but we figured since we were filling out paperwork and had to request transcripts we'de go ahead and get it done ahead of time. lucky us-we learned after the fact that the quarter dh was accepted was the last quarter anyone was accepted into his program. that particular specialty despite being considered short staffed in our state won't be accepting new students for several years. they will grad out the people currently in it, and then possibly open it up again. classes that show in the current catelog as being offered every quarter are on their last quarters of being offered-so if a student does'nt work closely with an ed advisor and know exactly what courses they have to take NOW can find themselves not qualifying for their credential and without any resource for the course work (the university is one of the only in our state that offers the program).

 

[happygirl]

What a great thing to do. There is a huge need for Special Ed teachers

 

[LMulligan]

My best advice is to check with your state department of education and make sure that schools are hiring in your area. I, too, was a career change education major. Upon finishing my masters degree and earning state certification, my home state (NY) imposed a hiring freeze. I have not even been able to substitute teach this year and am currently working as an administrative assistant.

Good luck to you!