Becoming a High School Teacher (credit, student loans, transfer to)

[mcp6453]

My son has been, shall we say, behind the curve in the maturity department. He is presently enrolled at Wake Tech and doing fairly well. His high school grades were not good, so he was not accepted at either of the public universities to which he applied. (He was accepted at a private university, but the tuition is prohibitively expensive as we don't do student loans, and because of his grades, he would not qualify for a scholarship.)

My brother-in-law is a high school teacher and coach in the western part of the state. He has said for years that my son would be a perfect high school teacher. We always dismissed the suggestion because my son's grades were not good.

Recently we learned quite by accident that my son loves history. (He's a major jock.) Since he is still trying to find an education and ultimately a career path for his life, we discussed the possibility of him getting his teacher's certificate.

The question is, what plan of action could you suggest for someone who has essentially screwed up his educational opportunities until a year ago? Assume for the purpose of this question that he as finally matured and has "seen the light." What options are available to him to enable him to pursue a teaching career? I don't see him getting into one of the major universities, at least until he proves himself elsewhere for a year or two. He probably has enough transferable credits that he could enroll as a sophomore.

There is a desperate need for high school teachers. If there is a possibility that he would be a good teacher, the possibility should be pursued. Your suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[saturnfan]

A transfer from Wake Tech to a 4 year UNC school might be feasible if he can demonstrate a good academic record beginning right now.

There are some programs like teaching fellows that could help him once he proves himself with good grades.

[Wonderboy88]

Originally Posted by mcp6453

My son has been, shall we say, behind the curve in the maturity department. He is presently enrolled at Wake Tech and doing fairly well. His high school grades were not good, so he was not accepted at either of the public universities to which he applied. (He was accepted at a private university, but the tuition is prohibitively expensive as we don't do student loans, and because of his grades, he would not qualify for a scholarship.)

My brother-in-law is a high school teacher and coach in the western part of the state. He has said for years that my son would be a perfect high school teacher. We always dismissed the suggestion because my son's grades were not good.

Recently we learned quite by accident that my son loves history. (He's a major jock.) Since he is still trying to find an education and ultimately a career path for his life, we discussed the possibility of him getting his teacher's certificate.

The question is, what plan of action could you suggest for someone who has essentially screwed up his educational opportunities until a year ago? Assume for the purpose of this question that he as finally matured and has "seen the light." What options are available to him to enable him to pursue a teaching career? I don't see him getting into one of the major universities, at least until he proves himself elsewhere for a year or two. He probably has enough transferable credits that he could enroll as a sophomore.

There is a desperate need for high school teachers. If there is a possibility that he would be a good teacher, the possibility should be pursued. Your suggestions would be very much appreciated.

There is NOT a desperate need for High School History teachers. There is a need for Math and Science and Special education High School Teachers.

[9/9]

Originally Posted by Wonderboy88

There is NOT a desperate need for High School History teachers. There is a need for Math and Science and Special education High School Teachers.

Although this is probably not what you wanted to hear, it is true. The big demand is math and science, though if your son is willing/interested in working in more rural parts of the state, he is going to have more job opportunities.

To answer your original question, he would probably have to figure out a way to transfer to a 4-year college/university, though I don't think that would be a problem, as long as he maintains a good academic record at Wake Tech.

Good luck!

[mcp6453]

He can do math. He's not crazy about science, probably because he does not yet understand how closely interrelated the two are. Thanks for the input.

[JJingle]

I've found that past academic lapses - especially in high school - can be over come fairly easy. He needs to apply himself now and earn the grades sufficient to transfer into a four year university, as a bachelor's degree is required to teach in NC. In fact, I wouldn't concentrate too much on the teaching aspect. Instead focus on obtaining that degree. So many doors are open to a degree-holder versus a high school graduate. Many students change majors once or more during the bachelors program, and many other students graduate to go into an entire different field than the one originally planned.

Concerning the ultimate transfer into a four year university - have him speak with an adviser at Wake Tech. They can supply him with a listing of classes that he should be taking now that will transfer towards a four year degree at another NC university.

[annesg]

As a college professor, I can also add that if he takes the "Core" curriculum courses that the state u's require while at Wake Tech AND DOES QUITE WELL IN THEM, he'll have a good shot at transferring. He can prove himself at WT and demonstrate his maturity and readiness.

Also, if he's thinking of teaching, make sure he looks at the education departments/colleges wherever he's looking. I know where I am in FL the ed major is very complex and students who change into that major end up having to stay an extra semester or so to catch up on the classes. So I would recommend talking to an advisor at the colleges he's considering to ask them (and someone in admissions) about what it takes to get in and what courses he should be taking and what he can expect when there. Can't hurt

[chemteacher]

I know many GREAT teachers (including my father and my brother) who were so-so students in high school, did not go to a 4 year college right away and later went back to get their degree in education (and got great grades). Both my brother and my father also have a special knack for teaching remedial courses maybe because they can identify with the students. Its never too late to go to a 4 year university. The teacher shortage is mostly for Math, Science, and Special Ed., however, the lack of shortage shouldn't deter your son. Many people in education will agree that the school one attended does not predict whether someone will be a great teacher or not.

[RDSLOTS]

If your son's interest is truly in teaching, I would encourage him to pursue it. There will always be a demand for good teachers, regardless of core. True, the demand is greater for math and science teachers, but your son can also set himself apart with other things -- ie. being in a position to coach a sport, or several sports, and having a great rapport with HS athletes, or working within tutoring programs like AVID (or something similar), or taking on remedial classes.

He should aim right now to improve his track-record. It will speak highly of him, if he can earn and maintain a 4.0 in his major -- ie. nothing less than an A in any course in his area. I'd also suggest his electives be in another strong area that he could possibly teach in case a school system finds itself in a bind, and needs someone who can teach history and a language, or math, or whatever. I have, over my career, not only taught HS English, but French I, Art I, and US History. He may also want to look into what it might take to become AP certified, although that may have to wait until he actually begins a teaching career?

If he (and you) could stand the additional time in school, a Master's in Teaching would give him just a bit of an edge over someone with a BA or BS, and certification to teach.

And, when he sits across from the Head of Personnel, he needs to be sure he can 'argue' why he is a better candidate to teach in a public HS than someone who graduated magna *** laude. Interviewed for my first teaching position, I noticed the interviewer (the Head of Personnel) had checked "low priority," and when she asked me if I had any questions, I pointed to the check, and asked why she had come to that conclusion? She pointed to my transcript. . .

An F in a US History course, and an F in a Math course, second semester of my Freshman year.

I presented to her, the argument that 1) she didn't ask what precipitated the Fs (I was editor-in-chief of the college paper and chose to get the paper out instead of making it to class), 2) showed her the subsequent As I made in both the very next semester (and while the transcript doesn't show such, it was with the same two professors), 3) I was applying to teach HS English, and I had NO course in my major with any grade less than an A, and 4) if I was going to work in a public HS, how would I ever identify with a child who was failing, if I had never failed myself?


In addition to pulling his GPA up, and proving himself academically, he'll need to be his own best advocate as well.


Oh, and I got the job, and had a stellar career.

[RDSLOTS]

CD's editing/censoring/whatever wouldn't accept magna *** laude. I didn't *** the ***.