I want to be a teacher, but I can't quit my job to student teach. What are my options? Do I have any?

Question

I'm 34 years old and am changing careers. I really want to teach and I've found a ton of great programs to get my certification on the weekends or evenings EXCEPT all have student teaching portions that require me to be there during the day during the work week.

I can't quit my job or get THAT much time off from work. Nor can my present job be done in the evenings. Do I have any options at all? I feel at a loss and like my goals may be in jeopardy.

I live in Connecticut if that helps at all.

Answer 1

I'd bite the bullet and take out a loan! Follow your dreams! Try and see if you can work something out with your current employer for the time off for student teaching. The worst they can do is say no. If they do, maybe consider getting a different job in the meantime that is more flexible. Get a line of credit to have some back up cash available.



I just quit a good salaried job (that I wasn't happy at) not too long ago to become a full time commission based mortgage broker. It's cost me $$ I dont really have to get started, but I am SO much happier and know that the money is coming!



I just didn't want to NOT ever do it, because even if I fail and it doesn't work out, admin jobs are a dime a dozen and I can get one any time. By not doing it, I know I would have looked back one day and asked myself "what if?". At least this way, there is no What if?!



Don't comprimise on your goals and dreams for something that is comfortable but doesn't make you happy!

Answer 2

Honey, half of me feels your pain. Sometimes, it takes some of us longer in life to decide "what we want to be when we grow up." However, the other half--the half that spent 10 weeks in a field study and 15 weeks in student teaching, does not. I have friends who have decided to take the short cut into teaching. Teaching is like the ARMY--it's the toughest job you're ever love!! and the kids need you be prepared. I don't want you to start teaching and stop before you've made a difference.



As many answerers have said, it's about sacrifice. I didn't want to leave my new born child with my parents as I pursued a teaching degree all those years, but I did. Student teaching may not be an option. However, in my state and others, there are alternative routes to licensure where if you have a B.S. degree and pass the Praxis I and II tests, you can go to school at night for a semester or two and study pedagogy and methology. Only 20 or 40 hours of classroom observation is needed which can be completed during your vacation week.



Good luck, and remember "JAMES 2:14-26: faith without works is dead."

Answer 3

I don't know if this is applicable to CT, I'm in CA. But I had to kinda buck the system myself. What I did: crammed 1.5 semesters into 1 year so all of my methodology was done while I was working (at that time as a contract teacher.) It did mean 12 hours of school a week plus some weekends, both days, 8-5. Then I asked my school (which did have an intern program, I just wasn't a part of it) if they'd sponsor an internship (essentially transferring in later) if I found my own job. I did have to find my own job and pray it came together (hired Aug 17, started Aug 21) for several months in between, but it did and I finished. I was paid, as an intern, 2.5% less than first year teacher salary.

Answer 4

First of all, I applaude you for continuing your education and in the field of teaching. I know it might be difficult for you, but you might just have to quit your job if the career of teaching is what you have decided to do. Unfortunately, student teaching does not last more than 6 weeks. Then, you have to submit your 'new' resume in order to get a teaching position. I pray that in your school district- your position is available and just waiting with your 'name' on it. Be of good cheer - you have made a good choice of career and I trust God that He will not have allowed you to come this far and not have something available for you - a new career, more money and an opportunity to serve young people. Good luck.

Answer 5

I am 35 and just went through the same thing! It was tough, but when it came down to the student teaching part - you just have to quit and live off student loans. I know it sucks, but can you get finanical help from family? Can you get a room mate or move in with family for free?



Are you currently in a program? If not - get started! The program will take a couple years and student teaching is the last portion. You never know what your life will be like in a year or so and you dont know who you will meet in school that can give you advice about what they are doing.



Good luck and go for it!

Answer 6

Take a student loan. That's what they're there for. It's normally a 10 week internship, if you finance things right, that could be just 5,000 dollars you'll miss, and maybe even 2,000 that you'll need depending on your life. But hopefully it's an investment that will make the rest of your life better.



The other option is to do everything but student teach, and then try to get a job as a teacher and finish while your teaching. Many schools hire people not yet fully certified and there are ways they get certified while completing their degrees.

Answer 7

I'm afraid you'll have to quit, if you can't get a job that will allow you the necessary flexibility. But you don't have to quit work altogether. Save up some extra cash if you can, and then look for a job doing something like bartending or answering customer service calls. If you have the ability to get good amount saved, you might even look for a job that just seems like fun. Work at a movie theater? Watch all the new movies first? If your present job isn't very high paid and you can't save much up, you might want to talk to a financial planner about creating a new budget that'll allow you to adjust to the transition.



It's awesome you're going back to school. Hope you'll be happy teaching. Good luck.

Answer 8

I live in CT too and am going for my teaching degree =)



I don't know what else to say but that theres a point where you've just got to make sacrifices. Weigh your options..make pros & cons...if you quit your job, can you live off of a night job working somewhere else? If you stay at your job, can you find a program with night courses or online courses? It seems like you can't hold on to the two things so you gotta pick one. I'd say you let go of your job, and figure out how to get your certification and still be financially OKAY..im not saying GREAT...im saying OKAY just so you have food on the table and a roof over your head. Think of who/what you are affecting..do you have kids? is it too much of a issue to quit while supporting children? do you think you can wait it off until they are older? Just reconsider your life situation and see what fits where. If you can't do it now because of the things you are affecting, see if you can do it later in life. If you can do it now, then DO IT..otherwise you will regret it...don't be afraid of change or a challenge..."struggle now...relax later on in life" good luck!

Answer 9

does Connecticut have an alternate certification procedure? Ask about this.



Can you take out a loan to get you through the one semester of student teaching? After all, most teachers I know started right our of college with huge student-loan debts.



Can you move? Come to Louisiana -- lol. Seriously, we're desperate for teachers so we make certification easy for mature adults who already hae a degree in something besides education. We don't pay much, but it's a start. then you can do what a lot of our teachers do -- move to another state that makes it easy for you to transfer certification.

Answer 10

I was in a similar position when I started.



I was able to get into the intern program that my school district had with a local university. I had a master teacher, but was the only teacher in the classroom. They paid me 50% of a starting teacher's salary which, although not much, enabled me to finish my credential without going through the standard student teaching model.



See if a district around you has a similar program and look into it.

Answer 11

When I was in charge of an evening academic high school in NYC i had on occasion students taking their student teaching in the evening. See if your school will go along with that if you can find an evening school that will accommodate you.



It is not easy but that under the right circumstances is certainly a good option for you.



A second option which I used for myself was to substitute a year of teaching for the required time in student teaching.

Answer 12

In maryland you can substitue a year of successful teaching in your subject for student teaching if you teach a 'high needs' subject. These are subjects with too few applicants for the number of jobs available: science, ESOL, spec ed, maybe others. I taught in a private school while I took my education courses. Then I switched into the public school system. Some public schools will also hire under this system.

Obviously, this isn't available in all states, but it never helps to ask. check with your dept of ed or whoever does the certification.

PS -- It didn't give me a degree in education, but I already had enough degrees from my last career.

Answer 13

If you have your degree in an area of high demand you can get hired as a long term sub. Then find a cooperating teacher. Long term sub means that you are just like a teacher except that you do not have a teaching license. Most states pay full salary to long term subs after a 30 days of service.

Answer 14

I had the same problem, until I found out how to work the system. Find a school you like and tell them that you want to be a teacher there. HINT they have a couple of slots for people like you and me. If there is an opening, you can quit your job and move into your new career.

Answer 15

wow, I don't know. Is there any way you could get another job that CAN be done at night, just while you student teach? If you are going to leave that job anyway, just find another job that you can work at night. Even if you have to work at a fast food place at night, it would be some money coming in.

Answer 16

Heres the best option i could find. (the best bet is to call a recruiter at the district you want to work for)



http://www.ctdhe.org/ARC/default.htm



it seems to be a summer program, limited in time and only 20 days or so of student teaching.

Answer 17

♥ Maybe you could find out how many student teacher hours you need. Say if you need 16-40 then take a day or a week off work depending on how many hours you need. Do you get paid vacation from your job? Maybe you could take that? Or sick days? Something to get you through. Good Luck!

Answer 18

i went through the same thing, and i worked part time, and took out a special loan from sallie mae that goes towards living expenses while you are enrollege in school.



ultimately, there is no way around it. and if you want to be a teacher, it is what you will have to do. is there any way you can take a leave of absence from your job (unpaid)?

Answer 19

if you are really commited to teaching you have two choices.

1. Get a new job

2. sign into a different teaching program( there are many out there) that would let you teach nights or weekends.