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I have lived in NY all my life and received my Bachelor's and Master's degree in NY for teaching.
To answer the question, it is REQUIRED in NY to receive your Master's within 5 years of receiving your initial certificate. You will not be able to receive your permanent certificate in teaching if you don't have 3 years experience teaching AND a Master's. So, technically you can teach in NY for the first 5 years without a Master's, but after 5 years, you HAVE to get one.
Hope this helps
Kim
So if you are required to obtain a Master's degree within 5 years of obtaining your certificate, do they pay for it, or at least cover some of it? Anything I have ever been required to do since being hired I haven't had to pay for.
Kim, Thanks for the clarification. That makes sense. I know in Pa, teachers are required to take so many classes towards a masters in order to get tenure and there is an incentive for getting a masters, etc. but I don't think it's required. I think one of most useful tools of bulletin boards such as this one is finding out what's different across the US. This thread points out how useful it would be to have a national standard for teaching certification. I know there is something called that but it's for teachers that already have certification and experience. It would be so sensible to just have a standarized test and then be able to teach in any state.
So seriously, what states can you possibly teach in where in the benefits actually include healthcare for yourself and your family (at little or no cost)? This thread makes me think that I either need to continue in NJ for the long haul or leave the profession in order to be able to move. So what else could an educator be qualified to do?
Chris
Our teachers have great healthcare benefits in PA. I believe the teachers themselves are free and family members are not that much. This article talks about it: The Times-Tribune - Teachers' Benefits Among Best Each district negotiates it's own deal with the teachers union. There's always a big stink about the cost to the district for healthcare when the contracts are being negotiated.
So seriously, what states can you possibly teach in where in the benefits actually include healthcare for yourself and your family (at little or no cost)?
In most of TN, the individual has healthcare for either little cost or it's free. In my wife's district, healthcare for the entire family is ~$100/mo.
So if you are required to obtain a Master's degree within 5 years of obtaining your certificate, do they pay for it, or at least cover some of it? Anything I have ever been required to do since being hired I haven't had to pay for.
No..it's NYC..they do not pay towards your master's, it is a given that you are going to get it if you want to continue to teach in NY State...that is how you receive your permanent certification.
Mike in TN: Thanks for the info. Good to hear it. We think a lot about moving South (live in PA now). We visited TN a while ago and liked it; in fact we're looking to go back. I wanted to go back but the cost of gas is making everything difficult.
Thanks
Chris
If you can stand one more comment, or rather caution, about teaching in Texas, I'll share an experience my spouse had there.
He taught high school science (biology, chemistry, anatomy & physiology, marine science and physical science) for ten years in a district in extreme South Texas. He has a Bachelor's degree and graduate hours in bio-medical sciences, so he is highly qualified. He left the field entirely as a result of something that happened to a colleague.
His colleague, a fellow instructor in the science department, ordered a disruptive student to go to the office. The student refused, using an assortment of choice and vulgar words, so the teacher escorted the young man to the office.
At the end of the day, the student and two of his friends jumped the teacher in the parking lot and beat him up. He wound up with serious bruises and contusions, broken glasses and ruined clothes.
So of course the district did the natural, logical thing. They suspended.... the teacher.
Because, you see, the teacher had the audacity to actually press charges against his assailants.
And the instigator, the one who stood up in his class room and said "f--- you" and a few other choice comments, was the star fullback on the high school's football team.
I think I'd sooner flip burgers for the rest of my life than teach in Texas.
Any info on Illinois? I'm interested in living around Chicago.
I'm surprised no one else has posted this either.
So...
Illinois.
Starting Salary- Depends on the district, and can vary pretty wildly. CPS (Chicago Public Schools) $46,761 (B.A). I've seen it as low as $32K in some of the other counties.
Job Outlook- Very, very competitive for the most part. If you are looking to get into elementary education, expect to compete against thousands. Like most states, math and science, ESL and SPED are in large demand. Langauge arts and hsitory? Almost the same boat as elementary majors. CPS usually has openings, but there is a residency requirement to live in the city of Chicago, and A LOT of the schools are ROUGH. However, if you don't mind this, you'll be alright.
Benefits: Health Coverage: Choice of PPO or HMO plans - single and family coverage available.
Dental Coverage: Managed care program or a fee for service option.
Non-Contributory Group Life Insurance: CPS pays premium for $10,000 death benefit.
Personal Accident Insurance & Optional Life Insurance: Employee coverage of 1 - 4 times annual salary. Spouse and dependents coverage available.
Long-Term Disability: Income protection program available through payroll deductions, 90 day or 180 day options.
Tax Sheltered Annuity Program: 403(b) Retirement Savings Program available with approved vendors.
Group Financial Planning: Comprehensive personal financial analysis to determine net worth and strategies to reach short and long-term goals.
Group Legal Services: Legal services program with access to telephone network attorneys, in-office network attorneys, non-network attorneys or online information.
Bright Start College Savings Program: Investment program to save for a child's college-related expenses sponsored by the State of Illinois.
Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation: Federal Perkins Loan borrowers are eligible for cancellation of their loan by performing full-time teaching service in qualifying teacher shortage areas. For questions about Perkins Federal Loan cancellation, contact the office that administers the program at your college or university.
Union: Ever so prevalent, at least near Chicago and the Daley machine.
Work Year: 40 Weeks/193 days
I'm not sure how it works in other states, but here, most teachers are white women who want to work in the suburbs. Therefore, there is TONS of competition for jobs out there.
I will have to get back to you with details, but I worked in LA, CA for 16 years and then we moved to NC.....I want to move back to CA to finish out my school counseling career. NC really stinks. No union, low pay, no health benefits for family, longer hours, more work days, and much lower retirement benefits.
Dawn
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