Montessori degree + M.Ed....any hope for int'l teaching?
Montessori degree + M.Ed....any hope for int'l teaching?
I have a Montessori elementary degree, B.A., M.Ed., and 20 years teaching everything. Does anyone have comments about how difficult it would be to get into the international teaching circuit without actual state certification? Any advice on whether direct contact with schools would be a better route for me than the usual (Search Assoc.) middle men? [I have made contact with Search and they didn't quite know what to do with my kind of creds] Thanks in advance!
Not your question- but good post
I have had doors open because of the state cert. when I know that the school is not confirming validity. One school, very new and in China, admitted that they get fake credentials (but didn't seem to know how to check credentials). Those are just observations related to your post. If I'm not too nosy- why don't you just get the state cert? If you don't want toaddress it, just ignore this post. Good luck, regardless!
Re: Not your question- but good post
[quote="derPhysik"]I have had doors open because of the state cert. when I know that the school is not confirming validity. One school, very new and in China, admitted that they get fake credentials (but didn't seem to know how to check credentials). Those are just observations related to your post. If I'm not too nosy- why don't you just get the state cert? If you don't want toaddress it, just ignore this post. Good luck, regardless![/quote]
Where I am, state cert. is a one year diploma, full-time study. There are no other options (no part-time, no online, nothing). Financially, I cannot take the time off, especially because I have been working as a teacher already for so long. If I take the year off, I think I would be more inclined to just take a different career path :) There are many international Montessori schools out there, but the $$ is dismal. They seem to be leaning more towards the international standards of providing housing, health care, etc. but salaries tend to be paltry.
Where I am, state cert. is a one year diploma, full-time study. There are no other options (no part-time, no online, nothing). Financially, I cannot take the time off, especially because I have been working as a teacher already for so long. If I take the year off, I think I would be more inclined to just take a different career path :) There are many international Montessori schools out there, but the $$ is dismal. They seem to be leaning more towards the international standards of providing housing, health care, etc. but salaries tend to be paltry.
Hey, mandolin,
Being in a LOW demand area and living a town that has earned the distinction of "Poorest Big City" more than once... the crazy thing I've found is that it's easier to get my teaching credentials recognized in another country than it is in another state. However... you don't have to live in another state to apply to get the teaching credential for that state. There could be exceptions to this, but have you considered taking a look at the requirements of other states for their teaching credential? It's a lovely amount of red tape, time and effort but you have a ton of education... it's ridiculous that you should have to go back for another year. Maybe you haven't given enough detail but with a master's degree... aren't you Highly Qualified? If this is something you want, maybe it's worth your while to go through the trouble. But each state is different and it would take a little digging to find one that you fit the requirements for. But not more than what it takes to research good schools from disreputable ones anyway.
Good luck! What you have in experience and education should put you head and shoulders above a lot of other candidates if you can resolve that little detail of a piece of paper.
Being in a LOW demand area and living a town that has earned the distinction of "Poorest Big City" more than once... the crazy thing I've found is that it's easier to get my teaching credentials recognized in another country than it is in another state. However... you don't have to live in another state to apply to get the teaching credential for that state. There could be exceptions to this, but have you considered taking a look at the requirements of other states for their teaching credential? It's a lovely amount of red tape, time and effort but you have a ton of education... it's ridiculous that you should have to go back for another year. Maybe you haven't given enough detail but with a master's degree... aren't you Highly Qualified? If this is something you want, maybe it's worth your while to go through the trouble. But each state is different and it would take a little digging to find one that you fit the requirements for. But not more than what it takes to research good schools from disreputable ones anyway.
Good luck! What you have in experience and education should put you head and shoulders above a lot of other candidates if you can resolve that little detail of a piece of paper.
Thanks, redrider! I will investigate and post if I get anywhere. I am applying next year to international schools and need to get the lead out if I am to get anywhere. Worst case scenario would be to work at a Montessori school abroad. It seems that Montessori is making a comeback, so I may have more luck there.