any former teachers?

[oyemicanto]

I have been a SAHM since the birth of my DD (8/01), and now DS is 2 and will start preschool in 2 years.

I am thinking of trying to find a part-time teaching job when he starts preschool, but I am getting nervous because I haven't done anything about keeping up my certification, and I really don't want to continue teaching the same subject (Spanish), even though I know it is my best bet at finding a job.

Just wondering if any other teachers are out there...

[shmeans]

I used to be an art teacher. Stopped to pursue my own art and family. If you are really interested in going back to education, look into private schools if your family can afford it. The salaries often aren't as good but I enjoyed it more. Also, they can be less strict about certifications and specific subject areas. Perk--your kids can often go at a reduced rate. Do you miss teaching or just thinking of getting a job?

[oyemicanto]

well, yes and no. I love teaching and love the kids. But I don't "miss" it, but I am thinking ahead and thinking that I would love some extra $$$. Ideally, I would find a job at the same school my kids attend. we'll see what happens...

[Fay]

I taught Latin at a private school. No certification required. Teachers there received a 90% tuition discount for their kids, so the school had an incredibly low staff turnover rate! Private schools often need part-timers w/no benefits, so that's one way to jump back in.

Some districts need teachers for enrichment classes for kids or adult ed classes after school/on weekends. Usually you only get paid $15-$25 per class, but it's an easy way to get your feet wet again.

[boongirl]

I taught elementary school and gifted elementary ed for 10 years before dd. I always thought I would go back right away but have been home now for almost three years. Every year we keep saying, I wil go back and find daycare/preschool for dd. But, the first year she just had so many issues that needed a lot of attention we decided it would be best to stay at home. Then, daycare cost so much I would have been bringing home $200 a month teaching full time after paying for daycare. Then, I could not find all day, part time daycare. So, now I am still home and we are struggling financially. Next year, I do plan to go back 2 days a week, subbing. I just can't work those 12 hour days anymore. So, I am just going to sub parttime as long as I possibly can.

cgmom - don't know about your particular state but in my state it is relatively easy to get a substitute teaching certificate after you have been a stay at home parent for a while. If you have the education credits, you should look at that as a possibility. If you have a nice district, you could also be an assistant teacher.

[DoubleOven]

:tiphat:

[turtlemama77]

I taught fifth and sixth grade (combined classroom multiage group situation in a charter) for 4.5 years. I loved it, except for the school politics part, but I got myself involved in that by being on the school board. I think I would really like teaching again someday, and am thinking about getting my middle school certification and/or master's degree someday. That's going to be a long way off though, because my oldest is only a year, and we have another due in July. I don't want to get back into teaching until they're in school full time because teaching can be very time consuming, as I'm sure all you teachers know!

[Vick]

Former elementary teacher here! :wave I taught for ten years before ds arrived in '02. Now I am in grad school working toward my doctorate in education and we're expecting a baby this summer. I have been going to grad school very very part time since my son was born and upped my class load this year since I know I have more time now that I will in six months! I am in a similar boat with other folks--the long hours will keep me away from classroom teaching again for a long time. I loved my job and was great at it, and now as a mom, I have different priorities and don't see myself going to work at 6:00am and leaving at 6:00pm (if I was lucky). Not to mention the homework and weekend work. My kids and marriage are too important to me to give so much to a job. After I graduate someday, I hope to work in state reform or at the district level in curriculum support or some similar capacity.

On another note, I can't wait for ds to go to kindergarten. I want to be a parent volunteer--maybe even a room mom!!! :lol

[riversong]

I'm sort of a former teacher and sort of a current one. Is that confusing? :)

I taught for 4 years before dd was born, took a year off to be a SAHM, and went back to teaching part-time when dd was 15 months old. At the end of this part-time year I plan to go back to being a SAHM and hopefully(!) have another baby.

The part-time gig is pretty good except my heart isn't really in it. I want to be home with dd. Ideally I'll stay home until all the dc we're going to have are in first grade or higher. That way I don't feel like I'm leaving them to go to work.

I would say don't let your certification lapse (or get it back if it already has) if there's even a possibility that you'll go back to teaching. I know I spent a lot of time in school to get my credential and master's degree. I wouldn't want to go through a lot of trouble to get a job later on because of dumb rules about lapsed certifications.

[zinemama]

I taught high school English for 5 years and unless we are financially desperate beyond belief, I do not want to go back.

I am launching a freelance writing career right now, and I'll give myself a few years to see how that goes. Slowly things are coming my way; the $ isn't great, but neither was it as a teacher.

Hey DoubleOven, we've got a lot in common! I taught HS English for 5 years, too and I don't ever want to go back. Mostly because of who I am. I came to realize that I just don't have that teacher passion that the really good teachers have. And also, I have to say, I found the student situation pretty frustrating. I had some wonderful kids, but there were so many who came to school with long-term problems that no teacher's equipped to deal with. Also, I didn't like the way teaching utterly consumed my outside-school hours. My hat is off to any English teacher/mother who can pull that off!

I'm also launching a freelance career. I've been writing for awhile and now I'm doing editing as well. It's hard to find the time, but I'm keeping my eyes on the prize of next September when my youngest starts preschool. Ten and a half free hours a week!

[*GreenMama*]

I'm an ex-teacher turned SAHM. I'm doing online scoring for www.ets.org Educational Testing Services. Its 15 an hour for scoring the HSTW High Schools That Work exam. Since you do it from home its really not bad! It is seasonal and you pretty much make your own hours. Pretty cool for working in your bathrobe!

Good Luck!

[Tori Gollihugh]

yep. X middle school teacher here. VERY thankful for the X part, as I had a TRULY horrid experience! :( I know one of my callings is TEACHER and I LOVE to teach DD, but the bureaucratic and political BS as well as the PARENTAL BULLIES were all WAY too much for me to deal with. So, if I return to teaching it will be after further education and I will likely only return to some form of higher education (Community College, State U, or Private U). I think, though, that I will have my hands PLENTY full with homeunschooling, though!!!!

[Galatea]

I taught spanish in a private school. I am not certified. Pay was pitiful, and only 40% tuition discount for kids. Probably would not go back. I agreed with the students that school was pointless and aggravating. Made me want to homeschool! At least the students were good, no discipline problems.

[philomom]

I keep my certificate current by taking the occassional college course. I don't know what the rules are in your state but this has worked fine for me. An evening class once in awhile and suddenly, I'm good for another four years on paper.

[newbymom05]

:wave I'm another former hs English teacher. I am such a weirdo that I loved it. We're in a different state now and I just don't see how I could take care of ds and keep up w/ all the work that I used to bring home. I have to say, though, that facing 100+ teens at an urban school every day was about 100x easier than being a sahm. :lol I'm keeping my certification current just in case.