Career Corner
In this blog, members of the American Association for Employment in Education, a professional organization for college career-center directors and school district recruiters, provided career advice and discuss developments in the education job market. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: career advice and job huntjob hunt.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Increase Your Marketability
On average, each school hires no more than 1 art teacher, that does not leave a lot of openings for hirable positions. The number of limited-English speakers in the state has grown by nearly 50 percent in the last decade with about 1 in 5 students struggling with the language. But in that same time, Texas had a dramatic 20 percent drop in the number of educators working in bilingual and ESL classes.
Career Advice
Opinion
7 Musts for a Great Interview
Remember, all interviews are not created equal. This is especially true for a teaching interview. While there is no one way to say exactly how your interview will go, we've got some tips from top Human Resources personnel, Principals and teachers to help you ace your interview and stand out as a top candidate.
Teacher Preparation
Opinion
It's Time to Get Cultured
By living and teaching abroad, there will be new sites to see and new people to meet, each one having an impact on your growth and wellbeing in their own special way. Your first time trying to navigate a new city surrounded by people who don't speak your language, might just help you relate a bit better to that EAL student you have been struggling to reach. Allowing yourself to grow will allow you to share your experiences with your students.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
A Teacher's First Year: Support, Reflection and Deep Breaths
"I was a brand new teacher starting in a new curriculum, a new country, and in a challenging school as the cherry on top. It was a scary and risky move, but I wouldn't change it for the world."
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Interview Tips
Interviews to teach in America are quite similar to teaching interviews in the UK. As mentioned in our previous blog post, becoming a global citizen is important for the further development of our country and world as a whole. When interviewing for international roles, it is okay not to know how things may differ from country to country. What impresses our Head Teacher's is your curiosity and actively seeking out knowledge as to how their school may differ from where you have previously worked. We often have the belief that we can't ask these types of questions during interview, but in fact the complete opposite is what impresses our hiring managers.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Creating Global Teachers
Teaching in a different education system, in a different location gives teachers the opportunity to learn the needs of students from different cultures or backgrounds. It also gives teachers the chance to discover how other regions combat global educational issues, such as the achievement gap. Teaching in the UK provides these opportunities.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
BE PATIENT... WE ARE HIRING
Don't stress! There a few things that most new teachers aren't aware of during the furious hiring season that district know all so well. The wheels on the bus go round and round but when it comes to the pace of hiring in K-12 education, is not so fast.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Starting Something New: Taking a Fresh Approach to Child Care Teacher Preparation
This has been the most rewarding and creative experience in my career. I have been able to tap into my years of experiences in early childhood centers and classrooms as teacher, director, coach and mentor. It was challenging to overcome some of the myths and stereotypes of what professional development for child care teachers should be. Our vision was that teachers should experience learning the way we want young children to be taught, with love, nurturing, patience, and deep respect for their uniqueness and capabilities.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Directors' Perspective: Improving Teacher Preparation for Early Learning Centers
Having conducted classes for adults working toward the Child Development Associate (CDA) for several years, I feel the Louisiana's new Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate expands and strengthens opportunities for those in the early childhood profession. As part of Believe and Prepare: Early Childhood the NSU Gateway Program strives to provide child care teachers the skills needed to provide high quality care to children throughout North Louisiana. Our program provides teachers several options to obtain their Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate. They can attend face-to-face or online courses that are designed to complement the coaching and onsite support teachers receive.
Career Advice
Opinion
Learning Lessons for the Classroom: Attending an Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate Program
Learning and implementing age appropriate practices have greatly improved the daily atmosphere in my classroom, and have guided me to become a better educator. A day in the life of an early childhood educator in a child care center typically consists of a meticulously well-planned day of fostering education-via-play that meets the needs of each individual child.
Career Advice
Opinion
Rethinking Child Care Teacher Preparation in Louisiana
Many enter the field of child care because of their love for children...and love for children is certainly very important in this field. However, providing high quality early learning experiences for our youngest children requires more than love. Among other things, it requires an understanding of child development as well as skill in working with families, humor, and a healthy dose of patience!
Career Advice
Opinion
The Letter of Intent
The phrase "letter of intent" has multiple meanings depending upon the person using the terminology. Letters of intent in your job search can be considered the same as "application letters" or "cover letters".
Career Advice
Opinion
Highlighting Experiences on Your Resume
Diverse experiences can count. Teachers do indeed spend a lot of time in the classroom instructing a subject. However, spending time with diverse audiences will help you prepare for your career. Diversity includes culture, religion, and thought. Learning something different gives you depth of knowledge, and an appreciation of others. Consider study abroad, service projects or learning a skill that stretches you.
Teacher Preparation
Opinion
What Do They Want to Hear?
So what are administrators expecting from you as they examine your paperwork, read your reference letters, conduct your interviews, consider your portfolio, and see you teach a lesson? We asked that question to a number of administrators in Western Pennsylvania not too long ago, and here are the most important qualities they seek, in no particular order: