Career Girls

Do you remember having teachers that looked like you?  Did you have enough teachers that look like you?  Research tells us that students who share language or culture with their teachers have better outcomes, closer relationships and choose to become teachers themselves at higher rates.  Today most teachers in the US are from Anglo backgrounds while about half of students in our public schools are minorities. Schools need you, me and every minority to think about teaching as a career.

 

Perhaps you are interested, but there is a lingering question in your mind. Do teachers make enough money? 

 

Teachers make a pretty decent salary and in many places in the country they have higher starting pay than many other professions.  For example, in Massachusetts, teachers in the first year working in the public schools earn between $44,000-$48,000 and mid-career they earn between $80,000 and $85,000.  In other states, it looks different but it may also be cheaper to live.  Teachers also work 9 months of the 12 months of the year and they have schedules that accommodate families.   Many families work 8-5 pm, but teachers in public schools work from 7:30 to 3:30 pm with occasional times like Back to School Night.  In the summer, often teachers also work in summer camps or tutoring to add extra income.   Additionally, being a teacher will help when you have your own family.  You will know how schools work, how teachers support students, how students learn and how you can advocate for the best education for your family.  

 

A career in teaching also doesn’t mean that you are locked into the classroom - there are plenty of options for advancement. For example, to be a principal, you must first be a teacher.  If you love psychology, you can earn your degree in teaching and jump into a masters in school psychology, mental health counseling, or other psychology field and you will have a head start. Ultimately, you can even choose to earn your doctorate degree and become a college professor.  There is also a great need for diverse professors at universities in all fields and especially in the education field.

 

The most important aspect of picking a career in teaching is knowing you like children. If you do, ask universities and colleges to send you information about their program, ask to speak to students in the teacher preparation programs, volunteer in schools, and make a close connection to a teacher you like who can share her trajectory towards becoming a teacher herself. Teaching is a rewarding career and a great option to have a large impact in the life of all children and even more for children from diverse backgrounds.  As Ignacio Estrada said, “If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.”  You can be that person in a child’s life!