Question for All High School or Middle School Teachers!

In Texas if you teach Science or Math...you will find a job no problem. English is really hard to find a position (my friend was teacher of the year in her last district and having a hard time finding an opening). Huge reduction in force for many districts here.

Electives depend on luck and good timing...them needing you and you being certified.

Good Luck...

It's really bad in CA with layoffs and no jobs, and in UT there are many teacher credentialed individuals working in other fields.

My two cents. I am in montana and taught middle school at a private school. If you want to teach in a really nice school it will be hard to get a job. If you don't mind teaching in a school that has problems.....much easier to get a job. I know rural teaching jobs in montana are pretty easy to get. No one wants to live in the middle of nowhere. But a good place to start and get expierence. I got a job easily at a private school (which I loved) only because the pay was so low ($18,000). For me it was worth it because I LOVED my job. I know jobs in alaska are pretty easy to get. Also, there is a lot of schools in utah because there are a lot of kids. Might make it a little easier to get a job.

It really depends on where you are. I have no idea about Utah, but we've had teacher layoffs in some metro counties here, while others have been hiring. Science and Math will usually get you a job much faster. Be willing to coach or sponsor extra curricular activities, and be willing to go to either a very rural area or, if you're truly prepared and think you have the gift for it, an inner city situation. Those are the areas that usually have the most openings. Honestly, it's because no one really wants to live there, so people don't stay around very long. Good Luck! Remember, most states have some type of certification exam (here it's the Georgia Praxis) that is required before you can get your certificate to teach in that state, so think of that if you consider moving to another state.

15 years ago when I was first interviewing for a high school English position, I couldn't even get an interview until a week after school started my first year, and I was hired to teach two regular ed English classes and given a provisional special ed certificate to teach special ed for the rest of the classes. The next year I swapped school systems and had 3 interviews and finally got a position the first week of October. Back then for English and History, it was extremely hard to find open positions. Other friends have had similar experiences, but my friend who teaches Science can get a job any time! If possible, he may want to add a math or science certification on since he already has finance and economics.

Hi Mommy Jane,
First of all, good luck with the job search; it won't be easy. However, there are jobs out there, even in history. Before having 3 little kiddos I taught history for 9 years in a public high school and sat on our personnel hiring committee for 2 of those years. Here are a few pointers:
1. Be honest and forthright and above all else, be yourself. There's a lot to be said for a "good fit" with the department, administration, and students.
2. Offer to coach or sponsor an activity that you have enthusiasm for.
3. Many districts are cash strapped, but even those districts have to hire some new teachers to cover retirement, attrition, etc. Since over 40% of a district's income comes from property taxes, you might want to look at foreclosure rates and avoid the areas hit hardest by the housing slump. That'll tell you the districts that are (or soon will be) having financial difficulties.
4. Is it too late in your studies to get "special" endorsements? Districts are always looking for special ed, ESL, and/or bilingual applicants. Having said that, they are tough fields that require considerable patience and enthusiasm; and once you're in that field, it's very tough to get out. Don't go that direction thinking you'll get a couple of years experience and then move on.
5. Thinking of location, inner-city or rural districts usually are more willing to take their chances on a new teacher. But once again, choose an area you are willing to work in and for.

With enough enthusiasm and perseverance, you will be able to find a job. Once you have one, look around and observe some of the veteran teachers. Seek out one or two out as mentors. It's very helpful to have a support network your first few years of teaching. Good luck!

I have good news and bad news.

The good news is that he has no experience so he will be 'cheap'. This may be attractive to some districts since hiring someone with zero experience is significantly less expensive than hiring someone who has been working for a while. In this economy, a veteran teacher could be absolutely awesome and a great teacher but will have absolutely NO chance of getting hired because they are "too expensive".

The bad news is that teaching is tough to get into right now. State and federal governments are either paying the school districts slowly or not at all which has left many districts cash-strapped. Additionally, education in the US is primarily funded at the local level based upon housing values and tax revenues. In other words, since housing values have dropped dramatically so has the amount of tax that can be collected for the schools. Finally, nearly every school district has their reserve funds invested, in bonds, or in savings. Typically they plan several years out, assuming that they'll get <x>% return on their investments. Of course interest rates have fallen like crazy and the reserve funds aren't being built like they used to be. On top of that since tax income has decreased, many districts are depleting their reserve funds rather quickly just to pay the bills.

So yeah, the state of the economy is pretty much forcing school districts to keep things tight. Veteran teachers are being laid off, class sizes are being expanded to squeeze out more teachers, and hiring has been at a minimum. Makes me glad I got in the game 14 years ago BUT it also crushes any plans I have to move to another school if I wanted to - A, no one is hiring and B, I'm too expensive now to even get considered.

I think you're on the right track to be open to moving anywhere in the country. Furthermore, be willing to coach sports or sponsor activities and you'll become a more attractive candidate.

I hate to say it, but your husband did graduate in a very competetive area, as far as teaching goes. Secondary History and social sciences teachers are plentiful, while the openings are generally few. When I graduated in the same area eight years ago (in Utah as well), I couldn't find a job in state the first year. Moved out of state the second year and couldn't find a teaching job in social sciences either. However, my third year, I finally landed a teaching position in Utah, after a great deal of persistence and many applications and interviews on my part. Once I told one of my old college professors how hard it was to get a job in social sciences teaching and he said he completely agreed and that he had been trying for years to get his school to stop offering it as a major because its so difficult getting a job in.

That being said, teaching positions have their ebs and flows. Some years there are very few openings, other years there are more. I'm not sure what the it's looking like now. I would recommend calling multiple school districts around the state and elswhere to get a feel for what they'll being needing. Apply early, apply to lots of schools and districts. Don't wait for them to call you back, because they won't. Schools and districts are notorious for this. Call them often, (especially schools you'd like to teach in) and ask for an interview, even if they don't have a specific opening at that time. You never know when a teacher will quite or a class will open up and they'll need a teacher at the last minute. I received my teaching positions after a great deal of persistence on my part. If I'd graduted in math or science, it would be a different story. We social science teachers have to fight for our positions! One other bit of advice- any endorsements he can get will help a lot- ESL, special ed, whatever he can do. Good luck to you!

This is a tough time to enter into the education field, but there are always people who retire, teachers becoming moms, and folks who find teaching is not their cup of tea. With that being said, the disappointing news is that history/econ/social studies majors are a dime a dozen (sorry about all the cliches). He will probably have to apply to several positions, but his best bet is to make a connection through networking. And if possible, he needs to make himself more marketable (special education, English language learner, or gifted & talented endorsement). If he can sub and get his name out there that will help too. Also, if he can, try to meet with the adminstration or someone when he's applying. In today's computer age where openings attract upwards of 100 resumes, it's good to have a face w/the name. Good luck on the job hunt.

A friend of mine has applied for hundreds of jobs, recent graduate, and has only had 1 offer for a .33 position, or 1 period a day. Not enough to live on... She is not willing to move though.

It depends on who has space available. You just need to pick an area, figure out what the name of the school board is and then find their HR information. They will usually have a website that you can see job postings within school boards.

Also, they will only accept a certain amount of applications per posting and if you are doing it online be prepared that some of these job postings will have upwards of 6000 applicants, it just depends where you are applying.

Good luck!

Hey my husband teaches in Kansas and we were open to moving anywhere within that state. KS has an awesome website where you can apply and see every job opening for teaching in the state of KS he would apply to any of them that he thought might work. KS did some major budget cuts with education this year and more are expected to follow next year. My husband's position was eleminated after three years and we ended up back in the same position we got a letter from one school that had 80 applicants for one job, many had at least 50 this is not always common but with the cuts it was for last year. Try to see what states have websites like that and that will help you find out about openings we never did find a good one for colorado. btw my husband had to settle for an English job this year but at least he has a job we are very thankful

There is no easy answer to your question.
It just depends...
Apply everywhere and see what you get.
LBC