Hello,
Fairly new to the forum and was hoping someone could help me out.
I'm currently applying to two schools in the states to get my teaching credentials & masters. For one of the programs, I will be working full time at a catholic school for two years while attending classes to get my credentials & masters. The other school provides an accelerated program where you earn a credential and masters in 15 months and after completion of the program, I would apply to work at a public school. For ISs, does it matter if I would be working at a private school as opposed to a public school for the 2+ years of experience? Ideally, I would like to attend the catholic school as it provides me with two years of teaching experience along with my credentials and masters in two years, setting me up to be qualified to apply for entry-level positions at International schools in a shorter amount of time.
Or, is there a completely different route that would be better in regards to eventually obtaining a position at an international school. (e.g. Teach now, Teach ready). How do you recommend I go about this?
Private vs Public for Experience
Re: Private vs Public for Experience
Do the one you like better, as long as you have the credential and experience you are good.
-
wrldtrvlr123
- Posts: 1173
- Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:59 am
- Location: Japan
Re: Private vs Public for Experience
gatdayum wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Fairly new to the forum and was hoping someone could help me out.
>
> I'm currently applying to two schools in the states to get my teaching
> credentials & masters. For one of the programs, I will be working full
> time at a catholic school for two years while attending classes to get my
> credentials & masters. The other school provides an accelerated program
> where you earn a credential and masters in 15 months and after completion
> of the program, I would apply to work at a public school. For ISs, does it
> matter if I would be working at a private school as opposed to a public
> school for the 2+ years of experience? Ideally, I would like to attend the
> catholic school as it provides me with two years of teaching experience
> along with my credentials and masters in two years, setting me up to be
> qualified to apply for entry-level positions at International schools in a
> shorter amount of time.
>
> Or, is there a completely different route that would be better in regards
> to eventually obtaining a position at an international school. (e.g. Teach
> now, Teach ready). How do you recommend I go about this?
-----------------------------------
Good question. The cop out answer is it depends. Your future employment depends in large part on the perceptions and opinions of a group of owners, school head and principals who are all very different individuals. If an admin has a background in public school teaching/admin in a particular country they may well prefer teachers with that type of background. Ditto if they have a background in private school teaching/admin. Another group may be wide open to all backgrounds. In shirt there is no real way of knowing which, if any route is the best of the two. In my opinion neither one is a golden ticket or a deal breaker.
I would advise going with which ever route is going to best prepare you for the job of teaching rather than which one is going to get you out there the fastest. The catholic school may offer an advantage with the two years of teaching experience that comes with it, both in terms of professional development and prospective employment. The only caveat would again come down to the individual perceptions of the recruiters in question. You would essentially be working as an uncertified teacher while obtaining your certification and masters (unless I am missing something). Some admin may place a high value on it (more likely those from a private school background) while others may discount it to a certain/large degree. In any case, it would probably benefit you one way or another (in the short or long term).
As for better/faster ways of getting certified and getting out there in the world, Teach Now etc may fill the bill. I don't know much about them but if you do a search there have been quite a few threads about how long, how useful etc they are.
I would explore all of your options but if you have the time and the means, I would go with the method that best prepares you to actually teach and have a successful career. Experience and a masters would seem to be worth due consideration.
> Hello,
>
> Fairly new to the forum and was hoping someone could help me out.
>
> I'm currently applying to two schools in the states to get my teaching
> credentials & masters. For one of the programs, I will be working full
> time at a catholic school for two years while attending classes to get my
> credentials & masters. The other school provides an accelerated program
> where you earn a credential and masters in 15 months and after completion
> of the program, I would apply to work at a public school. For ISs, does it
> matter if I would be working at a private school as opposed to a public
> school for the 2+ years of experience? Ideally, I would like to attend the
> catholic school as it provides me with two years of teaching experience
> along with my credentials and masters in two years, setting me up to be
> qualified to apply for entry-level positions at International schools in a
> shorter amount of time.
>
> Or, is there a completely different route that would be better in regards
> to eventually obtaining a position at an international school. (e.g. Teach
> now, Teach ready). How do you recommend I go about this?
-----------------------------------
Good question. The cop out answer is it depends. Your future employment depends in large part on the perceptions and opinions of a group of owners, school head and principals who are all very different individuals. If an admin has a background in public school teaching/admin in a particular country they may well prefer teachers with that type of background. Ditto if they have a background in private school teaching/admin. Another group may be wide open to all backgrounds. In shirt there is no real way of knowing which, if any route is the best of the two. In my opinion neither one is a golden ticket or a deal breaker.
I would advise going with which ever route is going to best prepare you for the job of teaching rather than which one is going to get you out there the fastest. The catholic school may offer an advantage with the two years of teaching experience that comes with it, both in terms of professional development and prospective employment. The only caveat would again come down to the individual perceptions of the recruiters in question. You would essentially be working as an uncertified teacher while obtaining your certification and masters (unless I am missing something). Some admin may place a high value on it (more likely those from a private school background) while others may discount it to a certain/large degree. In any case, it would probably benefit you one way or another (in the short or long term).
As for better/faster ways of getting certified and getting out there in the world, Teach Now etc may fill the bill. I don't know much about them but if you do a search there have been quite a few threads about how long, how useful etc they are.
I would explore all of your options but if you have the time and the means, I would go with the method that best prepares you to actually teach and have a successful career. Experience and a masters would seem to be worth due consideration.
Response
1) What is your teaching area/academic background?
2) What do you define as "better" (do you mean faster, cheaper, more marketable, better prepare you?) There are many ways to prioritize and define better?
3) What is your goal in IE?
I disagree with @WT123, Private/Independent DS experience is far more marketable. While there are leadership who value public/regulated DS experience they are a minority. ISs are essentially Private/Independent DSs with some focus on international education. Private DS experience is more marketable, but public DS experience isnt a negative.
You do not state which state you are in, but the public DS appointment will likely require some type of temporary/probationary/provisional license or credential you will be teaching on for the one year. This allows you to easily meet the definition of post certification teacher experience, even if it is essentially field experience. The private DS likely does not require or include any such certification.
I was a bit confused by the public DS option, do you complete the Masters program and then have to find your own internship/practicum appointment to complete the credential? If so depending on your teaching area and your local labor market that could be a serious barrier to completing the credential. There are applicants in similar programs who waited years before giving up because they never got hired for a position to complete their program.
The private DS option would better prepare you for work life in the majority of ISs. You may be able to also obtain or complete some form of 'catholic educator' certification program while at the DS, which may add some marketability when and if applying to ISs with a Christian ethos.
Teach Ready/Teach Now, PGCEi are often recommended programs for ITs who are already overseas and wish to obtain certification while overseas. You could still participate in them domestically if you wished, but assuming you had the resources a local traditional (University prep) program is preferable and will give your resume more utility.
The first pathway assuming you are very open is to consider one of the IBO degree programs. These will provide you a Masters degree and certification by the local regulatory authority but also include an IB Teacher and Learning certification. IB often becomes the bridge and challenge for ITs as they move through the second tier and into 1st tier ISs.
If the IB teaching certificate is not feasible, finding an IB DS/IS for your field experience would give you a much stronger marketable resume.
The second pathway would be too pursue a Masters that will lead to either administration, librarian, or school counselor certification, and to delay the masters until such time as those interest you. Pursuing a masters as part of classroom certification is expensive both financially and in terms of personal resources. An ACP/PB program should cost you around $5K-$6K and be Pass/Fail based with only a part time commitment to study. While it is possible to obtain a leadership/admin credential with any Masters degree though D.C. that pathway isnt going to offer as much utility for an IT with essentially no professional experience.
The Third pathway if Maths/Science are your teaching goals and you want to start out teaching internationally would be to consider a PGCE in the UK. You can get a government bursary that would cover the cost of fees, and provide you a placement to obtain QTS, all while living in the UK. This would give you the added benefit of developing BS (IGCSE/A levels) experience.
The Fourth pathway if speed is an absolute priority. Texas Teachers, an ACP program in Texas can certify you in one semester or about 3-4 months, you would have to complete your field experience in Texas (some parts of Mexico) however, which would require you to relocate. You could potentially however be certified this Spring, in time for late season recruiting in a third tier hardship IS.
Unless you were considering leaving for ESOL education now, and were going to be overseas, Teach Ready/Teach Now would not be the most appropriate option.
2) What do you define as "better" (do you mean faster, cheaper, more marketable, better prepare you?) There are many ways to prioritize and define better?
3) What is your goal in IE?
I disagree with @WT123, Private/Independent DS experience is far more marketable. While there are leadership who value public/regulated DS experience they are a minority. ISs are essentially Private/Independent DSs with some focus on international education. Private DS experience is more marketable, but public DS experience isnt a negative.
You do not state which state you are in, but the public DS appointment will likely require some type of temporary/probationary/provisional license or credential you will be teaching on for the one year. This allows you to easily meet the definition of post certification teacher experience, even if it is essentially field experience. The private DS likely does not require or include any such certification.
I was a bit confused by the public DS option, do you complete the Masters program and then have to find your own internship/practicum appointment to complete the credential? If so depending on your teaching area and your local labor market that could be a serious barrier to completing the credential. There are applicants in similar programs who waited years before giving up because they never got hired for a position to complete their program.
The private DS option would better prepare you for work life in the majority of ISs. You may be able to also obtain or complete some form of 'catholic educator' certification program while at the DS, which may add some marketability when and if applying to ISs with a Christian ethos.
Teach Ready/Teach Now, PGCEi are often recommended programs for ITs who are already overseas and wish to obtain certification while overseas. You could still participate in them domestically if you wished, but assuming you had the resources a local traditional (University prep) program is preferable and will give your resume more utility.
The first pathway assuming you are very open is to consider one of the IBO degree programs. These will provide you a Masters degree and certification by the local regulatory authority but also include an IB Teacher and Learning certification. IB often becomes the bridge and challenge for ITs as they move through the second tier and into 1st tier ISs.
If the IB teaching certificate is not feasible, finding an IB DS/IS for your field experience would give you a much stronger marketable resume.
The second pathway would be too pursue a Masters that will lead to either administration, librarian, or school counselor certification, and to delay the masters until such time as those interest you. Pursuing a masters as part of classroom certification is expensive both financially and in terms of personal resources. An ACP/PB program should cost you around $5K-$6K and be Pass/Fail based with only a part time commitment to study. While it is possible to obtain a leadership/admin credential with any Masters degree though D.C. that pathway isnt going to offer as much utility for an IT with essentially no professional experience.
The Third pathway if Maths/Science are your teaching goals and you want to start out teaching internationally would be to consider a PGCE in the UK. You can get a government bursary that would cover the cost of fees, and provide you a placement to obtain QTS, all while living in the UK. This would give you the added benefit of developing BS (IGCSE/A levels) experience.
The Fourth pathway if speed is an absolute priority. Texas Teachers, an ACP program in Texas can certify you in one semester or about 3-4 months, you would have to complete your field experience in Texas (some parts of Mexico) however, which would require you to relocate. You could potentially however be certified this Spring, in time for late season recruiting in a third tier hardship IS.
Unless you were considering leaving for ESOL education now, and were going to be overseas, Teach Ready/Teach Now would not be the most appropriate option.