help me think this through

[mamaofprincesses]

I want to go to grad school. I think my ideal job would be to teach reading and writing to adults part time. I mostly envision this being in a community college setting - probably remedial classes for students who want to pursue a degree though the community college. I can also myself enjoying a lot of other jobs, including administration/program management, or teaching in a high school or jr high school.

There's a local college that offers a M.Ed with a focus in adult education. I would probably have to borrow about $12,000 to do it, after savings. I might also get financial aid from the college, but I'm not counting on it. If I teach as adjunct faculty at the community college, I will make $630 per contact hour per semester. A semester seems to be, on average, 15 weeks. So, a three-credit class would be $1890. It breaks down to about $42 an hour, if my math is right. (My brain is fuzzy, I have a newborn). I'd owe $140 a month, according to the Stafford loan repayment calculator. We'd probably qualify for subsidized loans.

I know there's more info, but I don't want this to be too long. I'm trying to decide if I should purse the option with the teaching certificate - it would take longer and cost more, and I don't really want to work full time. I like the lifestyle and balance we have when I work part time. I'm not working at all currently, and the budget is overly tight for me. My working would be supplemental income, and also my own personal satisfaction. But, I'm a little worried about being marketable enough with just the M.Ed, and having options for full time employment in case it becomes necessary.

Sorry this is so disjointed. Tell me how you'd decide, or how you decided. Point out things I'm missing.

Also, does anyone know how many grad school hours I'd need to keep my loans out of repayment? Like, if I dropped down to 3 credit hours for two consecutive semesters, would my loans enter repayment? I know 6 hours is considered half-time for undergrad degrees, but I'm not sure if there are different rules for grad students.

Thanks.

[sparklett]

I don't have much insight for you, but a very good friend recently finished her master's in reading comprehension and from what I understand, her salary as a high school English teacher will never adequately compensate her for the expense of her degree.  However, she loves what she does (and is really good at it) and went through the program for her own professional benefit rather than for the paycheck. 

I've taught community college part time and the salary you talked about sounds just about right.  However, there seems to be less security in the community colleges and I found that the amount of effort required was far too much for me.

None of my degrees have resulted in much of a pay increase for me but I managed to stay nearly debt-free through scholarships and other programs.  When deciding on whether to pay for these programs, I decided that if the school didn't like my qualifications enough to support me through the program, then I didn't need to be going there.

In so many cases, the decision whether to pursue a master's or not needs to be based on your desire to pursue your course of study rather than anticipated increase in income.

If I remember correctly, once you stop going to classes, you have to repay your loans.  Also, if you work for government, education, or nonprofits, you only pay on your loans for 10 years and then the balance is forgiven.

[Anna Phor]

First off, I wouldn't think of it as $42/h. For each class hour, estimate 2-3 hours of prep/grading time, especially for the first time you teach a class. That works out to more like $14/hour.

Would you be teaching & attending grad school concurrently, or would you have to graduate before they'd hire you? What options are there for teaching without an M.Ed? For example, does the college have a tutoring program--or could you do private tutoring sessions? Are there any community organizations that do adult basic education that don't require the M.Ed? Could you do something like this for 6 months or so to decide if you like it?

[mamaofprincesses]

thank you for both replies. I do realize that $14 is about what it would work out too. Hopefully I'd get faster if I taught the same courses more than once, and make more per hour. It's also nice that I would, at least in theory, have flexibility in my prep and grading time, and could do it when DH was available or when the kids are in school (in six years, when they are all in school).

The local school district won't hire me to teach adults without a teaching license. I was teaching ESL at a nonprofit, and loved it, but would like to have some options for daytime hours. The nonprofit offered classes at night, and I see that being difficult when all my kids are in school.

I might be able to get hired without the M.Ed. I think I will put in an application in the fall, and see what happens. They prefer a master's but their minimum is a bachelor's with teaching experience. They might count my experience in ESL.

It's frustrating that the field I'm interested in is so low-paying, but oh well.

[Gretchen_PDX]

I'm a high school science teacher and I got my teaching lic. after realizing how hard it is to get community college jobs and how crappy the pay actually is (what I originally went to grad school for). I make more as a HS teacher. It sounds like maybe your answer will depend on whether you can get the job w/o an MEd. I would say in this market though, you have to be very competitive to get CC jobs. There are so many folks with Masters degrees but no marketable skills other than teaching :( 

Good luck!! And remember, not all teachers teach full time. There are part time jobs and sub jobs, if you do get a license but don't want to work full time.