[FutureTown]

I was inspired by the other teacher topic, but, didn't wanna hijack it, so, here's a new one!

Alright, I'm quite interested in about how to go along and become a teacher in the state. I think you have to get a bachelors in education or whatever and then apply to a school while you take those Praxis exams for certifications, correct? And then, within 10 years, you're expected to get your masters?

I keep hearing that job prospects are terrible. I'm not worried about salary, really. I'm worried about being stuck as a substitute teacher for years and never becoming a full time teacher. Are the differences in pay substantial in a school like Cheshire to New Britain? Or is it just that students don't perform well and that's about it?

So, ultimately, my question is what if someone is moving to the United States from lessay...London. You got your green card/citizenship and you reside in Connecticut. You have some teaching experience in the UK, but, not a whole lot. Like, 2 years. How would you go along teaching in Connecticut? Is it possible, even?

Thanks!

[7 Wishes]

What subject would you be teaching? That is a big factor. The big "shortage areas" are supposedly high school math and science, followed by middle school math and science and perhaps after that high and middle school English. That said, it means most of the jobs you can get "quickly and easily" are in troubled inner-city schools that can be tough to teach in and even then it has not be as "quick and easy" to get since the economy cratered 6 years ago (though it is starting to perk up).

Outside of that, it is almost a "lottery" to get a teaching job and the bit about being stuck as a substitute teacher for years is not folklore. I sometimes think of it like baseball, day-to-day subbing is like being in the minors, a long-term sub gig (where you are the actual teacher of the same classroom every day for a couple of months or more, like say for a teacher who is on maternity leave) kind of like the equivalent of the "September callup" in major league baseball and then getting that full-time job being like (as they call it in baseball) "getting to the show".

In many choice suburban districts, it seems from my experience it's often who you know that helps get you the job or they seem to prefer that young "cheaper to pay" 23 year old just out of school it seems from my experience with this.

As for the procedure, you are completely correct. There is a program called ARC (Alternate Route to Certification) where if you had a past career in the subject you want to teach (i.e. you were a chemist and want to teach HS science), you can do either a single summer of classes 5 days per week or Friday nights and Saturday mornings from Sept. to May and it's kind of a shortcut to CT certification. I know a lot about it so feel free to PM me if you want/need more information.

Good luck!