Teaching
candidates must be credentialed
By
Jack Schneider
On-line Forty-Niner
Cal
State Long Beach student, Kimberly Osborn,
is completing her credentials as an elementary
school teacher, and has plans to begin teaching
later this year.
She
is currently teaching second grade at Carver
Elementary with teacher Mick Holgund, and
said she enjoys the feeling of being in
front of the classroom, teaching students.
"I
have wa-nted to do this since the age of
six," Osborn said. "I really love
it."
Osborn
said one of the things that made her ready
to be a student teacher was feeling readily
available for the classroom setting. In
Osborn's case, she said her teacher made
sure she was ready to teach a class.
"Gradually
you work in," Osborn said. "Sometimes
he critiqued, but [it was] in a good way
with good recommendations."
Some
of the advice she said for students looking
for teaching positions included being readily
available,
getting involved in schools volunteer hours,
going to the districts and presenting yourself
to the districts as well prepared.
Judi
Walker, director of Educational Career Services
said the job market for teachers has remained
prosperous.
"There
is always a need for teachers," Walker
said. "The most in-demand areas are
math, science and special education."
Some
school districts such as Los Angeles Unified
are also experiencing a shortage of math
and science teachers.
David
Dill, specialist for the L.A. Unified School
District, said the demand for teachers in
the district is still high, however, the
overall teaching job market is getting more
impacted.
Dill,
who is also hosting a booth at the job fair,
said the students who apply for jobs and
are hired right away are students with full
credentials and qualifications. Dill also
said all teaching positions will require
interviews.
"The
most desirous candidates are going to be
fully credentialed," Dill said. "If
they're not, there is alternative verification.
They need to have a B.A. and [already have
taken the] CBEST. [Teaching] is getting
more competitive due to the job market.
We have to compete with any district out
there competing for teachers."
As
the second largest school district in the
United States, Dill said there are for the
424 Elementary, 72 middle schools and 49
high schools in the district for students
to choose from.
One
of the best schools Walker said students
can choose from in getting a job is middle
schools, but varies in each school from
different factors.
"It
depends on enrollment, growth," Walker
said. "Right now the enrollment growth
seems to be in the middle school."
For
students that might want to go into a competitive
area, Walker said one of the most important
things teachers are looking for is experience.
Currently
the college of education offers advice for
students in room ED2-168 who want to apply
for a job by using the Internet.
"We
have a list of Web sites because school
districts advertise [for jobs] on the Internet."
Walker said. "Candidates can look for
jobs on the Internet, where to apply, know
about job fairs taking place for teachers,
write your resume and get interview schools."
In
Osborne's situation, she said getting a
teaching job primarily depends on how you
present yourself to the district.
"It
depends what you have to display in portfolio
form, and how you sell yourself ,"
Osborn said.
"There
is always a need for teachers. The most
in-demand areas are math, science and special
education."
--
Judi Walker, director of Educational Career
Services
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