Teacher Roll Call

[pixie chick]

i'm getting ready to go back into the wonderful world of education & was wondering if we had any other teachers out there.

here's my recent history in a nutshell: i made a stupid mistake & resigned last spring instead of trying to extend my personal leave. So now i'm filling out my application, updating my resume, blah, blah, blah. i was doing fine until i got to the box that states, "Photocopy of No Child Left Behind Compliance Certification document (if applicable)." this is one of the reasons i hate teaching: so much friggin paperwork & constantly changing hoop-jumping exercises.

anyway, WTF is this & is it applicable to little ol' me?

[FrumiousBoojum]

Pretty much, yes.... though not sure what this would be. I haven't seen any of this on CPS documentation -- they seem to just do the checking to see if you qualify under the No Child Left Behind act on their own through your records.

This No Child Left Behind act that Bush put in, while good intentions, was one of the worst things that could've done.

Pretty much, it requires even the aide that sits in the library all day, making copies, to have a college education. Whatever.

It pretty much states that you have the right college and such to be able to teach children. Which is perfect for teachers, but -- they went too far on who was required to have it.

[SusieP.]

Nowadays this is built in to the credential program. I'm not sure what this means for you though. You should call HR or your district's credential analyst to find out. You will probably have to take the CSET and the RICA. I think you have to take some SDAIE class as well.

There's a whole series of hoops to jump through now. I wish I had just taken the credential 8 years ago when they were just handing them out. Although, NCLB would have caught up eventually anyway.

Crazy, isn't it?

[Alchimedes]

My wife can definitely tell you about all the hoop jumping! And this no child Left Behind act is a little backwards. It puts focus on the tests and not on teaching as whole. I don't care for this at all.

The funny thing is my wife and I were just talking about this last night.

[stinkerbell]

You stilll have your credentials....just no job, right? If you already have credentials, you should be fine....it shouldn't apply to you in getting a job. If you were re-applying for your teaching license/credentials, then it might apply. Once you're in a position, then you'll need to update some things, but to get a job, I don't think you have to worry about it.

This from the chick who let her license lapse this year. I'm getting a substitute license soon, since I can't picture myself going back to work any century soon. Way way way too much hoop jumping and there's no way I can keep up after being out of the employment loop for five years.

[Mac Daddy]

I've taught for several years, many of them at a high school in downtown Long Beach, CA. Fortunately, the "No Child" thing happened after I moved on to college, so I missed out on this new paperwork. My credential has since lapsed, and if I ever decide to go back to high school, I'm going to be in a world of trouble.

[twinmom]

I taught first and third grade before having the twins. I just went back to subbing last year and LOVE it!! Our state has a lifetime substitute credential so NO MORE HOOPS!!!!

[PrincessY]

Thank you for starting this conversation!

My story in a nutshell. Got my Calif. credential in the 80's and got a job. Had to quit (won't bore you with the details but nothing to do with my job). No teaching jobs so went into another line of work. Credential expired. Wanted to get back into teaching so applied for the one-time extention of my credential. Got a teaching position. Had to quit that job, since we moved. Began searching for another teaching position - none offered to me. I still live in California. I have a valid credential, valid CLAD credential, awesome references from administrators and parents, and have proof of being Highly Qualified according to the NCLB.

I hate the hoop jumping that is necessary in this state. Go through one, you think you are good. Nope. There is or will be another hoop in your future. I am ambivalent about returning the education world. Is is worth it? And I'm not really talking about the hoops (since I HOPE I've done them all).

Pixie chick: As for the Highly Qualified proof, there are several ways. I did it by taking the NTE Exam. You might want to check out www.ctc.ca.gov (if you are in California). Do you want to share why you are thinking of returning to education since you "hate teaching?" Not a judgement - I dislike a lot about teaching too.

Twinmom: What do you love about subbing? I've always stayed away from it because one of the things I love about teaching was bonding with my students, which just doesn't happen as a sub. Also, I am a plan freak. I have never been very good at flying by the seat of my pants. But I have heard lots of teachers who love to sub - go in, do your thing, leave. No grading, no conferences, no planning.

[Trekkie Dad]

I'm in my 34th year of teaching. Currently program specialist at an elementary school. My credentials are older than some of my colleagues.

[RooBear]

Today, GroundHog Day is my anniversary. I started teaching on this date on February 2nd, 1993. Been there ever since.

NCLB is ridiculous and is completely a waste.

I'm waiting for my renewal license here in Colorado and have been since December 1st. I have 7 endorsements in the state of South Dakota. I have two endorsements when I moved here, one of which I don't teach, but Colorado insisted that it was the only thing I had enough credits for. Both states need teachers. They pay them squat, and with terrific programs for licensure renewal, you can see why no one is going into this business.

However, there's something to balance this bitterness.

Kids. When they finally get that story, complete that play onstage or finally say thank you when you give them something (I teach middle school, after all---concepts like thank you are rare), you know you did something.

It's a hard profession, no denying that. Get that license! Worry about the details later!

And peace,
Roo

[twinmom]

Twinmom: What do you love about subbing? I've always stayed away from it because one of the things I love about teaching was bonding with my students, which just doesn't happen as a sub. Also, I am a plan freak. I have never been very good at flying by the seat of my pants. But I have heard lots of teachers who love to sub - go in, do your thing, leave. No grading, no conferences, no planning.

I subbed for a year before I started teaching full time and it was okay but I really wanted my own classroom. Well, I've had that experience and it was great but now that I'm a mom I like the flexibility of subbing. My husband's job pays well enough that I don't have to work. We used the money I made last year to go to Disneyland. I'm only available two days a week (days my husband is home so we don't have to put the twins in daycare) and just sub in the district I taught in. I LOVE to sub at my old school because I know the staff and get lots of siblings of former students. I love not having to do plans, staff meetings, report cards, conferences, etc. If I'm with a class of poor behavior kids, I just have to finish the day and not go back. I really like subbing in the library -- you get an aide, the kids are just there for 30 minutes and you have TONS of time to look at books!

[NemoZorro]

My wife can definitely tell you about all the hoop jumping! And this no child Left Behind act is a little backwards. It puts focus on the tests and not on teaching as whole. I don't care for this at all.

The funny thing is my wife and I were just talking about this last night.

Exactly, what TicToc said. Mrs. NZ, who has been teaching now for 10 years, and I have been talking about this too, and we feel the same way about NCLB.

[pixie chick]

just to clarify a little...

i'm in CA & i do have my clear credential, so i've taken the CBEST, RICA, MSAT, blah, blah, blah...

i just saw that little NCLB cert. box at the end of the application & wondered if it's something that i'll be exempt from since i already have my cred. or if it's something that i'll need to get taken care of, possibly sooner rather than later.

to answer princessY, i have a love/hate relationship with teaching. i love the kids, pretty much hate everything else! seriously, though, it seems with all the paperwork & testing we have to do, i don't exactly get to do as much teaching as i'd like. but, that's a whole 'nother topic!

basically the reasons i'm going back are financial & personal. i've been staying at home with pixie kid & he'll be going into kinder in the fall. we'd like to be able to buy a home soon & just can't if i don't go back to work. also, we've also been trying to have another baby, but things haven't worked out. so i have a theory that as soon as i get back to work, i'll get pregnant. (it's just soooo my life! ) truth be told, i also miss the kids & have to admit that i get a twinge of excitement thinking about getting a classroom ready again.

i'm torn, but i'm hoping for the best

[Where's Barbie?]

yes i might be biased but PC is a great teacher. before we became closer friends, she was my cousin oldest son teacher. he had learning disability and other teacher treated him like a burden to their regular students. she didn't and she was a positive part of that school. forward 5 yrs. to present and he is an honor roll at an magnet high school and class president of the freshman class. all it takes is someone to believe in you to make a student feel good about themself.

[pixie chick]

awwww...thanks WB