Anonymous
Post 09/22/2014 12:28     Subject: Done with teaching. What next?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, former teacher, also FARMS, voicing my support. Some crazy responses here, out of left field. Are you teaching elementary or secondary, and if secondary, what's the subject area?


OP here. I am an elementary ESOL teacher. I worked in the social work world before I went to grad school to get my masters in teaching. My only teaching certification is for ESOL but I'm certified K-12. I'm thinking that a change of scenery may just be what I need. I've been at the same school for 10 years. There are a lot of positive things about it, but as I stated previously, having my own kids became a game changer in that it's not fair to them when I have used up all of my patience during the school day on other peoples' kids and very little is left for my own.

Honestly, it's the behavior issues that get to me most right now since I've had my own kids. I have many lovely students with lovely, involved families but it's the select few that take up most of my patience. I could probably even deal with the behavior issues if the little time I have without students during the day wasn't micromanaged beyond belief due to one new initiative or another. To the posters who are ready to pounce on the FARMS issue--I don't even know who is FARMS and who is not (that info is confidential), so please don't use my personal experience as "evidence" to support your agenda when the students I'm referring to may not even be FARMS.

I've been thinking about what else I'm interested in and really the only jobs that fulfill me are in the helping professions. I would love to become a curriculum writer, but those jobs in my system rarely become available. Thank you to the posters who have shared BTDT experiences.


OP, thanks for your years of service.

I just did a search on some local private school teaching sites and found this opp which might fits you:

https://aimsmddc.site-ym.com/networking/apply_now.aspx?view=2&id=225678

You can also learn more at these sites:

http://www.maesaschools.com/
http://www.aimsmddc.org/

Agree with the poster re the ed tech companies too. There are a lot in the DC area.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2014 11:55     Subject: Done with teaching. What next?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The insults and putdowns have been flying not only towards her but all teachers!

PP here. Saying that many school teachers end up teaching, because they cannot find something better, is not an insult. It is a fact. Granted, there are exceptions. If an Ivy League grad decides to teach inner city high school kids, more power to them. But it is extremely rare, alsmot non-existent outside the Beltway.


Right. The Ivy League grads are teaching at local privates. I was very surprised to discover this.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2014 11:49     Subject: Re:Done with teaching. What next?
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm glad you're leaving if you have that much disdain for your students.[/quote]

NP. Do shut up. OP did not express disdain for students ANYWHERE in her post. Learn how to read and until then, zip your trap.[/quote]

She basically said "I'm quitting because poor people."[/quote]

Guess how I know you're not a teacher? [/quote]

Because I had a good SAT score, went to a good college, and had good grades?
[/quote]

I had a 1580 SAT score, got into multiple ivies, and graduated with honors.

I'm a teacher.

Thank you for perpetuating stereotypes. For some people, money isn't that important.[/quote]

Sadly most of the U.S. teachers come from the bottom half of their high school graduation class with SAT scores well under 1000. [b]Entry into education colleges are just not at all competitive. One way to turn our education system around is to mandate a higher bar into the profession[/b].[/quote]

Education should be like pre-med or engineering but then again teachers would need to be paid more to attract smarter people to the profession in the numbers this country needs. [/quote]

Yes and we'd have to get rid of the dolts in the bureaucracy.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2014 07:49     Subject: Done with teaching. What next?
Anonymous wrote:all who chose to listen to the calling of being a K-12 educator

Oh please. As if you know who chose what. Yes, there are lawyers who need more predictable schedules and college professors not cut out for tenure. What do the professional athletes teach in your school? Nothing beyond PE, I hope.
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2014 23:23     Subject: Done with teaching. What next?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The insults and putdowns have been flying not only towards her but all teachers!

PP here. Saying that many school teachers end up teaching, because they cannot find something better, is not an insult. It is a fact. Granted, there are exceptions. If an Ivy League grad decides to teach inner city high school kids, more power to them. But it is extremely rare, alsmot non-existent outside the Beltway.


I can't even. I had so many job options coming out of college and I chose to teach. I left for a while to try something different and came back to it after getting my MA in ed. In the school where I teach we have former lawyers, former college professors, former professional athletes … all who chose to listen to the calling of being a K-12 educator. Get off your high horse.


I doubt people are referring to these people when they say teachers are as dumb as a door nail. IME, this area has mostly very effective teachers with a few duds. Other parts of the US are not so lucky.
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2014 18:18     Subject: Re:Done with teaching. What next?
OP:

I am a career switcher who started teaching about 6 years ago, but my reverse experience could help just the same.
Two things that would help your case would be to build some teaching experience teaching adults, and to demonstrate that you've had summer employment. (People outside of teaching some times look down on teachers' unpaid summers as an indication of a lack of work ethic/ambition).

Maybe teaching adults in the evenings would help build the first piece. This would help gain skills transferrable into HR/adult training positions at larger companies. Another possibility is teaching at a community college, where you would encounter less behavioral issues.

Also, look to non-profits in the education field.

Good luck, OP!

Anonymous
Post 09/20/2014 18:08     Subject: Re:Done with teaching. What next?


Anonymous wrote:
The insults and putdowns have been flying not only towards her but all teachers!
PP here. Saying that many school teachers end up teaching, because they cannot find something better, is not an insult. It is a fact. Granted, there are exceptions. If an Ivy League grad decides to teach inner city high school kids, more power to them. But it is extremely rare, alsmot non-existent outside the Beltway.


Is that so? Where are you getting this information from?

You are clearly not a teacher. If you were, you would realize how ludicrous your remark is. You cannot even APPLY for a job in this area without a teaching license, which must be earned through coursework, student teaching hours, and completing Praxis testing. This is not something that a person can just waltz into doing because they can't find another job. Not to mention that DC area schools are a highly competitive market; literally 500-600 people apply for every job opening in the larger area counties.

Anonymous
Post 09/20/2014 17:48     Subject: Re:Done with teaching. What next?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm glad you're leaving if you have that much disdain for your students.


NP. Do shut up. OP did not express disdain for students ANYWHERE in her post. Learn how to read and until then, zip your trap.


She basically said "I'm quitting because poor people."


And high FARMs = mental health and learning issues not yet diagnosed

Look up the wellness centers in MCPS. not exactly high-flying schools . . .
http://www3.montgomerycountymd.gov/311/Solutions.aspx?SolutionId=1-OFRDH

And if you don't know what a wellness center is, do your goddamn research.
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2014 11:47     Subject: Done with teaching. What next?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The insults and putdowns have been flying not only towards her but all teachers!

PP here. Saying that many school teachers end up teaching, because they cannot find something better, is not an insult. It is a fact. Granted, there are exceptions. If an Ivy League grad decides to teach inner city high school kids, more power to them. But it is extremely rare, alsmot non-existent outside the Beltway.


I can't even. I had so many job options coming out of college and I chose to teach. I left for a while to try something different and came back to it after getting my MA in ed. In the school where I teach we have former lawyers, former college professors, former professional athletes … all who chose to listen to the calling of being a K-12 educator. Get off your high horse.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2014 09:50     Subject: Done with teaching. What next?
Anonymous wrote:The insults and putdowns have been flying not only towards her but all teachers!

PP here. Saying that many school teachers end up teaching, because they cannot find something better, is not an insult. It is a fact. Granted, there are exceptions. If an Ivy League grad decides to teach inner city high school kids, more power to them. But it is extremely rare, alsmot non-existent outside the Beltway.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2014 07:54     Subject: Re:Done with teaching. What next?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm glad you're leaving if you have that much disdain for your students.


NP. Do shut up. OP did not express disdain for students ANYWHERE in her post. Learn how to read and until then, zip your trap.


She basically said "I'm quitting because poor people."


Guess how I know you're not a teacher?


Because I had a good SAT score, went to a good college, and had good grades?


I had a 1580 SAT score, got into multiple ivies, and graduated with honors.

I'm a teacher.

Thank you for perpetuating stereotypes. For some people, money isn't that important.


Sadly most of the U.S. teachers come from the bottom half of their high school graduation class with SAT scores well under 1000. Entry into education colleges are just not at all competitive. One way to turn our education system around is to mandate a higher bar into the profession.


Sorry but mandating higher bar will not guarantee better teachers... not without the competitive pay.



I find highly academic teacher do not make good teachers. They don't really understand teaching. They understand that they could sit in class and learn and that they could read and memorize. I find the teachers that struggled a little in school really get it. Actually I find that true in many professions. The ones that were a wiz at school really fall apart in the real world.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2014 07:31     Subject: Done with teaching. What next?
OP - look at Ed tech companies. A lot of them need former teachers to help with content or delivery. Much better $$ and more fun. Still has a positive impact.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2014 07:10     Subject: Done with teaching. What next?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:To the toxic person with the high SAT score, high class ranking, and high opinion of herself/himself:
do you think the quality of life is better in the countries you list with the impressive TIMSS scores? Do you think the high scores are a reflection of class ranking and SAT scores of teachers? What exactly is your point? You come off as a narrow-minded ass. With a high SAT score of course!

NP. I think you are wrong in taking this personally. No one doubts your intellectual prowess or academic credentials. But stats are stats, and they are telling. Yes, the overall quality of life for middle and working classes is better in the countries PP lists. I believe PP is making a valid point. We want excellence in our educators, but sadly refuse to pay for it. Apparently, there are more important things on our agenda Again, nothing personal.

I am the PP of above post, not the OP. and also i am not a teacher. So not taking anything personally just irritated by all of the presumptuous and judgemental responses, zeroing in on the OP's intellect. The OP is seeking advice on a career change. The insults and putdowns have been flying not only towards her but all teachers! Enough already. It is obnoxious.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2014 07:00     Subject: Done with teaching. What next?
Anonymous wrote:To the toxic person with the high SAT score, high class ranking, and high opinion of herself/himself:
do you think the quality of life is better in the countries you list with the impressive TIMSS scores? Do you think the high scores are a reflection of class ranking and SAT scores of teachers? What exactly is your point? You come off as a narrow-minded ass. With a high SAT score of course!

NP. I think you are wrong in taking this personally. No one doubts your intellectual prowess or academic credentials. But stats are stats, and they are telling. Yes, the overall quality of life for middle and working classes is better in the countries PP lists. I believe PP is making a valid point. We want excellence in our educators, but sadly refuse to pay for it. Apparently, there are more important things on our agenda Again, nothing personal.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2014 06:35     Subject: Re:Done with teaching. What next?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm glad you're leaving if you have that much disdain for your students.


NP. Do shut up. OP did not express disdain for students ANYWHERE in her post. Learn how to read and until then, zip your trap.


She basically said "I'm quitting because poor people."


Guess how I know you're not a teacher?


Because I had a good SAT score, went to a good college, and had good grades?


I had a 1580 SAT score, got into multiple ivies, and graduated with honors.

I'm a teacher.

Thank you for perpetuating stereotypes. For some people, money isn't that important.


Sadly most of the U.S. teachers come from the bottom half of their high school graduation class with SAT scores well under 1000. Entry into education colleges are just not at all competitive. One way to turn our education system around is to mandate a higher bar into the profession.


Sorry but mandating higher bar will not guarantee better teachers... not without the competitive pay.