ESL job opportunities in FCPS

[Anonymous]

I've been thinking about a career change, and am particularly interested in considering becoming an ESL teacher.

Just read this: "It is projected that, by 2030, more than 40 percent of all school-age children will be English-language learners," which (if true) makes it seem like there will be growth in this field.

Do any of you who work in FCPS know about its job prospects in ESL over the next 5-10 years?

[Anonymous]

I've been a high school ESOL teacher in FCPS for 16 years. There is certainly growth in the ESOL population and this past winter when the populations at some schools got sky higH and schools were looking to hire, there were no ESOL teachers available to even hire (or so I heard). So, yes, certification in ESOL would definitely be good. Being bilingual also helps as well as having a specialty - certified in math or science as well or something like that. I is definitely a demanding job and the population we are seeing now in high school is definitely more challenging than ever before, so think long and hard about why you would like to teach ESOL.

[Anonymous]

I'll probably "out" myself by posting here, but oh well.

I started out in Spanish in New York state (undergrad was Spanish and another major), moved here in 1989 and started in ESOL and Spanish. I had taken a master's degree in ESOL in New York (but had not used it there). I was in ESOL in two districts here (including FCPS) for 23 years total. Two years ago I switched to a core area (I got HS certification in one of the big four). I am glad I switched.

ESOL is very, very challenging and with the kinds of students they are seeing and the numbers, it is a burn out area. You are not just teaching English. Teaching English would be a picnic compared to what you need to do. Many students have not been schooled or have been schooled at very low levels. Many students suffer psychological issues due to their separation from parents for many years (and subsequent reunification). Many students are living in poverty situations (renting rooms and parents working all the time). You have to deal with these issues because they are the huge elephant in the room. HUGE.

I loved ESOL students and I still do, but my age is making it difficult for me to have the energy level to deal with so much. I am exactly the kind of teacher they would love to hire for ESOL (speak Spanish fluently, have tons of experience with the population they are seeing, know how to diagnose issues and provide support, know tons of strategies and materials, etc.). I would not mind taking a job sharing situation in ESOL or doing something to help these students after I retire. I would also consider helping right now if they made it attractive for me (like more pay!). I am putting a child through college and I could use more money. But I would not teach ESOL for the same pay that I make now (and my job now is MUCH easier). I would feel exhausted.

The other thing is that many people think that anyone can teach ESOL as long as they speak English. This is so far from the truth. As long as this attitude is out there, it will be hard to attract good teachers to ESOL (and they are desperately needed).

ESOL teachers have to be really, really flexible and able to adjust curriculum quickly as needed. It's a very multidisciplinary approach to teaching. You are providing background content knowledge in addition to teaching English. When it is done correctly, it requires a lot of planning and thought. It cannot be done with a set curriculum although some people seem to think this is possible. It's not possible because the students come in with incredibly varied backgrounds and you are constantly assessing what they need (and adjusting). And this goes on year after year because you never have the same group of students you had the year before. Of course you draw from things you have done, but you also are constantly creating based on needs. It's exciting if you like being creative (which I do) and being a problem solver. You have students entering your room at all times of the year so the room is incredibly dynamic.

If you are looking to stretch yourself as a "real teacher" (not paint by the numbers) and learn A LOT and put in long hours, teach ESOL. Teaching ESOL made me a very good teacher in many ways.

I forgot to mention that you need certification. I took a 42 credit master's program in New York, but I think you can do it more quickly as a certification only through George Mason. My program required a lot of linguistics so I know a lot about grammar in English and various other languages. That helped me to think about the problems students were having with learning English.

I am still a teacher, but not in ESOL. My ESOL experience has made me a more patient and supportive person I think.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your insightful replies. I would definitely want to learn more, and actually sit in on some classes, before taking the plunge. It would be a big career change for me. But, I am bilingual with Spanish and have some English teaching experience already, so I think that would help.

Do the elementary schools have the same needs as the high schools, as far as needing ESL teachers? All my experience is with younger kids, so I feel I'd be a better teacher with grade school kids.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered teaching Spanish immersion? You wouldn't need the additional certification and there's a pretty high demand for immersion teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you considered teaching Spanish immersion? You wouldn't need the additional certification and there's a pretty high demand for immersion teachers.

Pp here-- this is assuming you already have teaching credentials. Fluent bilingual Spanish/English speakers with teaching certification are very much in demand.

[Anonymous]

Immersion teachers need an elementary endorsement.

[Anonymous]

I have had two friends burn out on it. One worked in a high school and felt tremendous pressure from the principal when the school did not make AYP. My other friend worked in an elementary school in Fairfax and felt that her principal stretched her in too many directions (e.g., covering for teachers when they were out). However, I still think you may have more flexibility than a classroom teacher. You get to see a variety of groups and you have less classroom specific duties.

[Anonymous]

I have considered this kind of career switch too. I taught esl in college and for 3 years overseas after college.

How much would an entry level real teacher make in Fcps, with say 15 years experience and a masters in another field. (Does that count for anything? Probably not.). Just curious, I've had this pipe dream for a while.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thank you all for your replies. While I'm bilingual, my accent in Spanish is not great, and I still make grammatical errors, so I wouldn't be up to teaching immersion.

I have no teaching credentials - just a BA and Master's degree. I figure it will take a few years of part-time study, ideally at George Mason for convenience, to get all the necessary credentials.

Is the ESL teacher burnout as frequent/likely as it is with elementary classroom teachers?

Also, just to clarify: the quote about 40% of children being English learners is for the entire country, not just Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have considered this kind of career switch too. I taught esl in college and for 3 years overseas after college.

How much would an entry level real teacher make in Fcps, with say 15 years experience and a masters in another field. (Does that count for anything? Probably not.). Just curious, I've had this pipe dream for a while.

If you are eligible to teach, and all 15 years are creditable, you would make about $67,200. I don't think the you'll count the Masters degree from another field.


http://www.fcps.edu/hr/salary/pdf/fy16/FY16194dayTeacher.pdf

[Anonymous]

*they'll count

[Anonymous]

I think you have it backwards. The master's degree will count, but the 15 years has to be experience as a teacher. Even then, they have a limit of 11 years for giving credit on the pay scale.

[Anonymous]

^ Oops, I guess it's 15 years that you get credit for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have had two friends burn out on it. One worked in a high school and felt tremendous pressure from the principal when the school did not make AYP. My other friend worked in an elementary school in Fairfax and felt that her principal stretched her in too many directions (e.g., covering for teachers when they were out). However, I still think you may have more flexibility than a classroom teacher. You get to see a variety of groups and you have less classroom specific duties.

This really is school specific and it's hard to know what the school is really like before you start working there. I am the first person who responded and I feel very lucky that my school for theost part is very supportive of our ESOL dept and our students. Are there things I get aggravated with? Of course. And I sometimes wish the rest of the school understood ESOL a bit more. But for the most part I do feel supported and I am able to develop my own curriculum and have freedom to teach how and what I want within reason. The students are really the hard part these days- they have changed so much from when I first started teaching. So very needy with such difficult backgrounds and challenges. To give an example, I recently had a parent conference with a student and his father and found out the young man had not been in school since he was 11 (and I'm not even sure how much he learned in school before that anyway). He is now almost 18. Trying to get him up to an academic level high enough so that he can actually earn credits and graduate, is next to impossible. Not to mention the numerous behavior and other challenges this student presents in class each day. I still like it, but it's hard and draining and at this point in the year, I am definitely ready for a break.