Teachers? Not hired yet, should I worry?

[DisneyRoys]

This will be my first year teaching (elementary) and I have not been hired yet. This is driving me crazy! I was told by one principal that she really wanted to hire me to teach kindergarten but she had to hire two kindergarten teachers this year and the other teacher she had already hired was also a brand new teacher. This is a private school and she was worried the parents would be upset by two first year teachers in the same grade. She told me she would keep me on her list if she had any other positions available. This has been my only real interview.

I am going to be on an alternate license because I did not complete student teaching. I do have a BS in elementary education and I have passed all of my Praxis tests. With the alternate license I will teach for a minimum of 15 months and then be fully licensed. Really it is just a longer period of student teaching. The city and county where I live have been in a lot of trouble and will no longer hire people on an alternate license unless you want to teach junior high. I really do not want to do that. I have been trying to get on at the private schools.

Was it this late in the game when you were hired for your first position? Should I start looking at other potential positions in other fields? Anyone else start with an alternate license?

 

[golfgal]

I know in our area most school districts have a July something deadline for current teachers so they don't do any hiring until August with schools starting after Labor Day. Some teachers aren't hired until the very end of August even. If you were in this area I would say don't worry yet but I don't know what it is like in your area. I know in our area you can't get your license until you have student taught. The only exception to that is the program some districts have where if you have a certain number of years in the 'business' world and want to get into teaching they will give you 2 years to complete your licensure. They won't do that for new teachers.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I wouldn't be worrying just yet. There is a lot of reshuffling of teachers that goes on in late July and August. Both dh and I got our teaching jobs in mid- August.

 

[pigletz]

I wouldn't worry too much. I was hired for my first teaching job in August. Today is actually the 8th anniversary of my hire date at my second teaching job. I didn't even realize it until I read your post. When we were first starting out one of my friends was hired two weeks into the school year. Is it possible to sub next year if you don't get a job? I know one year can help you get your foot in the door at least. It may not be ideal but it would give you some experience. Good Luck!

 

[Caradana]

I wonder if you might be better off financially by finishing your student teaching in the fall, and then intensively applying for a job once that's done - maybe picking up a maternity position or something similar. I'm not sure about Tennessee, but I know that in New York or New Jersey, you have a huge long-term financial advantage in getting into the public school system and gaining tenure.

 

[poohs_hunny]

I just finished my second year teaching. When I was first hired, it was in May, but my district hires VERY early whenever possible. I have heard many stories of hires in July and August, some as late as the week before school begins! Things happen at the last minute - teachers move, find another job, decide they do not want to return after maternity leave, etc. I know it must be incredibly difficult to just sit back and wait. I am a planner by nature and I would have gone out of my mind! Hang in there, and best of luck at finding a position. You picked a fantastic profession - it is hard, but so rewarding!

 

[Pineapple Princess]

Don't panic.
I have been hired at 3 different schools. All three times it was within a week before students started. Yes it was crazy but that is how it is in some places. Good luck!

 

[DisneyRoys]

Thank you all for your replies. I feel a lot more confident knowing that other teachers were hired right before school started. I am going to apply for a sub position if I don't get a teaching position. I am also working through the application process for grad school.

Caradana mentioned going back and student teaching in the fall. I was unable to complete the student teaching portion because of an illness in my family. My university told me I could come back the following semester and finish it even though I was on the road to graduate. When I came back for the next semester (after graduation) they said I couldn't student teach because I had graduated. They put me on the alternate license instead. I do have the choice to go through grad school but the MAT would basically be a repeat of everything I have learned. I had hoped to work on the alternate license so I could get an MS instead. We'll see how it all works out. I know I am going to attend a different university because the college where I got my BS constantly gave me misleading information.

 

[C.Darwin]

how did you get your degree without finishing student teaching? it sounds like your university gave you some really bad advice.


since you can't work in the public school system, your job prospects are very limited. unless maybe another county will accept your alternate license. is there another field you can work in until you get your MS?

 

[DisneyRoys]

I had actually started my student teaching when the family illness occured. I was about two weeks into it and realized that I just wasn't going to be able to work that semester. The actual college semester was just beginning at that time. My advisor suggested I take a couple of classes to get a minor in sociology. What the advisor should have told me was to withdraw from the university for that semester. Since I stayed in, took classes, and was still listed on the road to graduation somene in the department changed my concentration to "society services" instead of "elementary education." I was able to graduate because the concentration was changed (unbeknownst to me!) I had more than enough hours for the degree because the "society services" concentration is a way for people who were elementary ed or early childhood to still graduate if they change their minds about the degree. I found out about all of this after the fact! I had not changed my mind. I just couldn't student teach that semester.

I knew that I was still going to graduate that semester. I did not know that my concentration had been changed and I was not told that once you graduate the degree can't be changed. I had checked with three different university employees (including my advisor) to make sure I could return to student teach. Unfortunately they all gave me the same wrong info. I am the first person in my family to go to college so I was completely unfamiliar with a lot of the process. My university is very large and a lot of students work there. I was given the wrong information several times throughout my college experience.

The university where I am going to attend grad school told me that my situation is not unique. They have several people every year who went to my university and are in the exact same position as me. I find that very disturbing.

 

[aprilgail2]

They don't hire here until mid August sometime so don't give up!

 

[Cindy B]

In many district around here, the alternate licensure is frowned upon. I was considering the alternate licensure-I would have been done by now!, but I had two many superintendents state that I should continue on the coursework and NOT do the alternate route. (this is when I was interviewing for substitute positons)

And also with your masters, you can get a higher pay.

 

[ctinct]

I just finished my second year teaching. When I was first hired, it was in May, but my district hires VERY early whenever possible. I have heard many stories of hires in July and August, some as late as the week before school begins! Things happen at the last minute - teachers move, find another job, decide they do not want to return after maternity leave, etc. I know it must be incredibly difficult to just sit back and wait. I am a planner by nature and I would have gone out of my mind! Hang in there, and best of luck at finding a position. You picked a fantastic profession - it is hard, but so rewarding!

Would you mind sharing which district this is? Was it for elementary school? I am four years out of school and STILL don't have a teaching job. I am so discouraged. From what I understand, here in CT there are hundreds of applicants for each elem. position. I have applied in Bridgeport and New Haven each year as I have heard that both these districts often have huge needs right before school starts because of last minute resignations, but I have never even been called for an interview. I graduated summa, worked as a sub for a year, as a public school prek classroom assistant for two years, and currently I work as a special ed para. I think my next plan of attack is to go back to school and get cross-certified spec. ed., but finances are a little tight at the moment. Any advice you can give me for finding a position? Thanks.

 

[Microcell]

From the way my mom told it, her mother was fired most years of her childhood, and they would move to the next town and she would teach for a year, get fired and always find something else. She was strong willed.

 

[Daxx]

Do not be worried. I had to pop into my school the other day and they're still interviewing for 2 positions. Last year, our first grade teacher was hired 2 days before the start of school!