Education

Affording A Degree

August 22, 2007 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

I currently teach and coordinate an ESL program in our charter school. I have been working as an ESL teacher for about nine years. I would like to get a second master’s degree either in Curriculum or Leadership. My existing degree is in TESOL. My other choice is to get a doctorate in TESOL or a related field. But as a single mother, I cannot just go to school and not work. Are there scholarships or grants available? Going into debt is not an option.

Thank you,
JT

Answer:

Agent K-12 now accepts questions about finding jobs in education. Our Web site is dedicated to providing job seekers with top school openings. E-mail careerquestions@agentk-12.org to have your questions answered by an expert in the school recruitment field.

There are three steps in this process:

1. Decide whether you really want to get a second master’s degree or if your preference is for pursuing a doctorate.
2. Select the institution that you’d like to attend.
3. Inquire about financial assistance for students in your program.

Good sources for information include: a) academic departments, which typically offer their own scholarships, grants, and specialized financial assistance programs; b) the Financial Aid Office, which should have listings of available in-house and external scholarships or grants for which you could apply; and c) Women’s Studies/Women’s Resource Centers, which exist on many campuses. These canters have been created specifically to assist women like you, who are single parents seeking advanced degrees. Remember there are many scholarships that go unclaimed because people just don’t know about their existence.

Individuals with expertise in fields such as TESOL are highly desirable right now. I genuinely believe that, especially if you decide to go for a doctorate in this area, you should be able to find some good sources of financial assistance.

Your willingness to relocate will surely make the process of becoming a teacher easier and more realistic for you. I wish you luck and success!

This answer, provided by Dr. Dawn Scheffner Jones, online education and health advisor for career services at Northern Illinois University, is intended for informational purposes only. Opinions are solely those of the participants.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Reflections on Evidence-Based Grading Practices: What We Learned for Next Year
Get real insights on evidence-based grading from K-12 leaders.
Content provided by Otus
Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.
Federal Webinar Navigating the Rapid Pace of Education Policy Change: Your Questions, Answered
Join this free webinar to gain an understanding of key education policy developments affecting K-12 schools.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Quiz ICYMI: Moms for Liberty Launched Its Own University And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Moms for Liberty annual convention in Washington, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Moms for Liberty annual convention in Washington, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Education Briefly Stated: April 16, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Quiz ICYMI: Do You Know What 'High-Quality Curriculum' Really Means?
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Image of curricula.
iStock/Getty
Education Quiz ICYMI: Lawsuits Over Trump's Education Policies And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Image of money symbol, books, gavel, and scale of justice.
DigitalVision Vectors