any SA high school teachers? (Dallas, San Antonio: school districts, college, land)

[nullxposur]

A friend of mine is thinking of becoming a high school teacher, but she doesn't know what it entails. She's in her mid 20's and getting her Bachelors in Civil Engineering, so she knows plenty of math and physics. Her true passion is teaching, especially math, instead of following the engineering path.

I asked her to formulate a question so I could ask the fine folks here. I should have asked her to sign up hehe I'll be sending her the link so she can read it. Here is her...

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Can anybody tell me what it’s like to teach high school (preferably math)? Pros & cons on being a teacher in San Antonio, and if there are better districts to teach at than others?
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Any takers? Thanks! =)

[TXEX06]

Tell her to get her teaching certification while still in college. Alternative certification doesn't look as good.

[barricade]

Alt cert is the way to go....

do not teach in saisd

teach in nisd or neisd

kids are different these days they are a lot worse

if you are not strong willed teach in elem

[ashbeeigh]

unless she gets her certificate while she is in school still, like TXEX06 mentioned, she'll have to go through an alternative certificate program to get her teacher's certificate. It takes a few months and there are a few tests involved. I never did it, thought about it, but never did. Search for "teachers" in the forum and you'll find a long thread about the job search for several of the posters and their family members.

There is real no concrete answer whether she'll be able to get a job right away as a teacher, right out of college. I had a roommate who did the alt certificate right out of college, and teaching was her passion, but didn't land any jobs so she ended up going to Grad school in counseling.

And while some school districts are a little rough around the edges, that doesn't mean it doesn't have good kids in it. A lot of inner city schools give its teachers bonuses for staying on. I don't know if there are any here. If your friend is interested in teaching in Dallas, I know DISD has an intense alternative cert program that will then place you in one of their schools. Just a thought.

[nullxposur]

Thanks folks. She was very happy to have seen this information. I think it might've cleared up some doubts.

[barricade]

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

unless she gets her certificate while she is in school still, like TXEX06 mentioned, she'll have to go through an alternative certificate program to get her teacher's certificate. It takes a few months and there are a few tests involved. I never did it, thought about it, but never did. Search for "teachers" in the forum and you'll find a long thread about the job search for several of the posters and their family members.

There is real no concrete answer whether she'll be able to get a job right away as a teacher, right out of college. I had a roommate who did the alt certificate right out of college, and teaching was her passion, but didn't land any jobs so she ended up going to Grad school in counseling.

And while some school districts are a little rough around the edges, that doesn't mean it doesn't have good kids in it. A lot of inner city schools give its teachers bonuses for staying on. I don't know if there are any here. If your friend is interested in teaching in Dallas, I know DISD has an intense alternative cert program that will then place you in one of their schools. Just a thought.

I teach In Inner city SA we are more then a little rough around the edges, BONUS = never
SAISD = Broke as a District

[sarahbrooke]

Alt cert programs are tricky in that most districts won't hire you right away. You need a few years experience with this certification before they will even look at you. UTSA offers a Post Bat program that is a true degree and certification that you can use immediately at any district (contingent upon their need). That said, math and science are high needs and she is very likely to get hired with that certification.