I am thinking about becoming a teacher--looking for opinions

GreenSalsa · 05-28-2012, 06:45

Hello everyone,

I am doing some "branch and sequel planning".

I am starting to wind down my military career (26 years so far). I am probably going to stay on another 2-3-4 maybe 5 years but I am starting to do some mid range planning. Apparently it is time for me to grow up and get a "real" job.

While I have all sorts of clearances, skills, and qualifications I am considering a radical change of direction with my life and thinking about teaching in high school or maybe lower level college classes.

I am NOT getting into this for the money--I know and understand my salary will be anemic and I know I won't stay long enough to be "vested" in any additional retirement plan.

The military has a program called Troops To Teachers. It is funded to help Veterans make the transition providing low or no cost training.

I have a BS and MS and know I will have to attend some more training to receive a teaching certificate in NC but I wanted to ask some of my "network" of friends what their experiences were.

To all you teachers out there (especially high school or college types) did you find that job really rewarding? What were some of the best parts? Worse parts?

Would I be coming into the "system" too late? ie have you noticed that people who start teaching later in life have more difficulties? What were they? Were there any advantages?

Is there anything I should really think and consider?

Has anyone used the Troops To Teachers program?

Thanks again for your feedback

JoeEOD · 05-28-2012, 08:07

I would suggest that you invest some time into observing in schools and finding some of the guys that have done the Troops to Teachers route.
I got a BS in Education (insert joke about BS here) on the GI Bill and spent several years teaching. I found schools to be an intolerable place of excess political correctness. Accountability, personal rsponsibility, and discipline are not core values. I was usually the only veteran in the building and treated as if that was a moral failure!
My brother-in-law tried the troops to teachers route without success. Despite the continued press about a need for math and science teachers neither he or his classmates have been hired to teach. They found the schools unwelcoming and that there were impdiments every step of the way. For example: to be a middle school math or science teacher in Connecticut you have to have a college level algebra class on your transcipt. The fact that he was an engineering major and had calculus as a freshman did not meet the requirement!
There are some good schools out there but some recon before you invest a lot of time in this route would be a good idea.

mark46th · 05-28-2012, 08:13

Do you mind going overseas? My cousin taught in Europe and Asia for years at international American schools...

Office of Overseas Schools www.state.gov/m/a/os/ or Google "international schools"

SF_BHT · 05-28-2012, 08:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark46th

Do you mind going overseas? My cousin taught in Europe and Asia for years at international American schools...

Office of Overseas Schools www.state.gov/m/a/os/ or Google "international schools"

You beat me to it..... Those positions are great to see the world and you will already know how to work and live overseas. Most of the trachers I have run into working in the International School system are tree huggers and you would be a breath of fresh air.

Down side is they work for the school system but are not members of the embassy. Depending on where you are is what type of relationship they have.

greenberetTFS · 05-28-2012, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSalsa

Hello everyone,

I am doing some "branch and sequel planning".

I am starting to wind down my military career (26 years so far). I am probably going to stay on another 2-3-4 maybe 5 years but I am starting to do some mid range planning. Apparently it is time for me to grow up and get a "real" job.

While I have all sorts of clearances, skills, and qualifications I am considering a radical change of direction with my life and thinking about teaching in high school or maybe lower level college classes.

I am NOT getting into this for the money--I know and understand my salary will be anemic and I know I won't stay long enough to be "vested" in any additional retirement plan.

The military has a program called Troops To Teachers. It is funded to help Veterans make the transition providing low or no cost training.

I have a BS and MS and know I will have to attend some more training to receive a teaching certificate in NC but I wanted to ask some of my "network" of friends what their experiences were.

To all you teachers out there (especially high school or college types) did you find that job really rewarding? What were some of the best parts? Worse parts?

Would I be coming into the "system" too late? ie have you noticed that people who start teaching later in life have more difficulties? What were they? Were there any advantages?

Is there anything I should really think and consider?

Has anyone used the Troops To Teachers program?

Thanks again for your feedback

I've got 3 "Teacher QPs" you should PM for assistance in making your decision....ZonieDiver,Richard and Dozer523.....

Big Teddy

afchic · 05-28-2012, 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSalsa

Hello everyone,

I am doing some "branch and sequel planning".

I am starting to wind down my military career (26 years so far). I am probably going to stay on another 2-3-4 maybe 5 years but I am starting to do some mid range planning. Apparently it is time for me to grow up and get a "real" job.

While I have all sorts of clearances, skills, and qualifications I am considering a radical change of direction with my life and thinking about teaching in high school or maybe lower level college classes.

I am NOT getting into this for the money--I know and understand my salary will be anemic and I know I won't stay long enough to be "vested" in any additional retirement plan.

The military has a program called Troops To Teachers. It is funded to help Veterans make the transition providing low or no cost training.

I have a BS and MS and know I will have to attend some more training to receive a teaching certificate in NC but I wanted to ask some of my "network" of friends what their experiences were.

To all you teachers out there (especially high school or college types) did you find that job really rewarding? What were some of the best parts? Worse parts?

Would I be coming into the "system" too late? ie have you noticed that people who start teaching later in life have more difficulties? What were they? Were there any advantages?

Is there anything I should really think and consider?

Has anyone used the Troops To Teachers program?

Thanks again for your feedback

Based on our limited interaction at NPS, I think any classroom would be lucky to have you.

JJ_BPK · 05-28-2012, 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSalsa

Is there anything I should really think and consider?

West Point, ROTC, or JROTC.

Take advantage of your MOS stream.

Good luck..

GreenSalsa · 05-28-2012, 10:37

Thanks all--I will contact those guys by PM--I really don't want to leave CONUS and would really like to stay local. I have reasons to stay in NC, and more specifically Cumberland County, due to my daughter's autism. Switching therapy is difficult at best if I were to pick up and move.

Seriously, thanks for the feedback--I will be sending out PMs this week.

craigepo · 05-28-2012, 12:56

Missouri doesn't pay a ton, but they have a pretty good retirement. My bird-hunting buddy just retired from coaching at 55. He is living pretty well right now.

Dusty · 05-28-2012, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by SF_BHT

Most of the teachers I have run into working in the International School system are tree huggers and you would be a breath of fresh air.

Seems to be true in the States, as well.

GreenSalsa · 05-28-2012, 13:23

Hey I "hug trees" too, but on the way to my deer stand!!!

Dusty · 05-28-2012, 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSalsa

Hey I "hug trees" too, but on the way to my deer stand!!!

We need every teacher like you that we can get, then.

GreenSalsa · 05-28-2012, 14:10

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but still all I am doing is a feasibility assessment.

Dusty · 05-28-2012, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSalsa

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but still all I am doing is a feasibility assessment.

Well, you said you're looking for opinions; that's mine.

It's a noble calling; there are just too many libs doing it.

Of course, IMO, one's too many.

Badger52 · 05-28-2012, 16:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSalsa

Hey I "hug trees" too, but on the way to my deer stand!!!

First I wish you truly all the best in this journey. Second, I'm tagging this thread as my daughter contemplates - at a similar pre-retirement window in her career - this very thing, teaching.

She will probably return to here to Wisconsin, though, where a valid deer tag gets a kid OUT of school for the requisite 9 days of the gun season, and many teachers as well. (Downside is that sanity has temporarily taken over & they actually have a deduction out of their salary for pension & health insurance.)

Seriously, all the best. I'm not surprised that teaching in some fashion is a natural progression for many QP's.