re: College Loans

Ok, well that's still not a whole lot imo.


Anyway, he didn't get in to those.

Just started an educational administration graduate program. I expect to graduate with $20k in loans. $5k will be knocked off in 2 years after having taught 5 consecutive years in a Title I school. Once I get the degree, my pay will immediately bump up to take care of the monthly loan payments. And the door will then be open to double my salary, so I won't be (too) concerned about the remaining $15k.

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How many years did you teach before you started that program?

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I'm in my 9th year, but I could've started the program after 3 (which would have been a horrible mistake on everyone's parts).

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Why is that?

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Simply put, you don't know enough after 3 years to get enough from the program (and to do well as an instructional leader of a building). You're still getting your legs in the classroom. By the time you get to year 7, you're moving past the classroom management and organization stage and thinking about content and theory/philosophy issues (basically becoming a master teacher). Plus, it helps to have a variety of settings under your belt.

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How has your experience been with the graduate program?

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I'm in the middle of my first class but it's been fine so far. It'll be nice to study something a little more concrete than teaching practices. It's giving me a nice new perspective while still in the classroom, too. I'm a little worried about the workload on top of teaching full time, but I'll find a way.

If I can get in the program asap I want to start it.


I'm certified in PE, health, business education, and early childhood education. (k-4)

Might try and add middle school cert or possibly social studies.

I'm tired of taking the Praxis exams. Spent a ton of $ on them already and hopefully I can land a job with the areas I'm certified in at the current time.

One more semester and I can start looking for a job.

I forgot speech as well. I passed the Praxis too.

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If you can get into an ed admin/ed leadership program with no teaching experience, then more power to you. Most states require 3-5 years classroom experience before applying for an admin license, though.

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Yes, in Arkansas it's 4 but the prof said they can set it up to where you complete the course work (contingent on having a teaching job) and then after 4 years teaching you can get one. Not starting the program at 4 years. I'm meeting with another one tomorrow. It may all be for not, but I'll know a lot more tomorrow.

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. As a male (with military background), you move to the head of the pile--

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I don't see how that would help or hurt me. I do have several connections since my dad is an administrator.

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The core subject areas are where the jobs are--math, science, and English.

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I know, I have no desire to teach those. Ideally, I want to do business education and physical education. Would enjoy doing 3 hours of each.

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Isn't there a Troops to Teachers program?

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I think you have to be active duty for 10 years and teach somewhere on a base. I plan on teaching in Northwest Arkansas and I'm in the Guard. Also, I will have been active duty for only 13 months with a deployment and 7 months of training.


I also having a coaching certificate. I think coaching may help my case one day when I try and move up the chain.

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But I think it's going to be a challenge to find a job teaching those specific content areas.

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I agree, my dad has told me that. Fortunately, a new high school is being opened in the area and it's a new type. It's technology based/business based teaching.

My of my other classmates are only getting certified in PE. I think that's incredibly stupid.

I wouldn't feel comfortable teaching English and math. I would feel comfortable teaching some sciences but don't have any desire to teach those courses.

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You might be wasting your time taking all those PRAXIS exams.

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That's why I stopped taking them. I wanted to be certified in multiple areas because that imo would put me over someone who is just certified in 1 area. I thought it would better my chances.

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Gotcha. Just be careful with endorsements. Don't get them if you don't actually want to teach them. Once they see that you have them, they'll probably try to make you teach them at some point.

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That's why I only got the ones I would be ok teaching.

Are military scholarships still available? One of my friends got one from the the Air Force, he applied for it during his first year, and they picked up the tab for the last 3 years in return for a 3 year commitment. He got to live in some pretty cool places, and walked out three years later with no debt and a big chunk of cash that he used to buy into a practice.