Central Florida Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Question: Teachers
I am currently not in the education field but plan to be. I also plan to get my master's but not necessarily in that field. Do you recommend getting your master's before or after being hired? I am not sure what incentives the district has for currently employed teachers continuing their education or will possessing a master's prior make you an "unattractive" candidate since I have heard it can be seen as "more expensive" for the county? ......Or can a master's seen as a plus?
I definitley look forward to getting my master's but do not want to delay getting into a career I really want. It seems like a tough time to ask considering all the budget cuts and teachers being let go but hopefully that will get better soon. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Re: Question: Teachers
I dont think you wont get a job because of your masters, you really only get slightly more (like 2500 more a year, nothing huge) especially if you have zero years experience.
The definite plus to getting your masters before you start teaching is that you won't be so bogged down with so much to do!
however, some degrees require you have experience in teaching before pursuing your masters, so each situation is different 
I had my masters before I moved to Florida (it is in Education) and it did not create a problem for me to get a job. I would be leary of the teaching field at the moment as I know so many teachers who have experience who can't even find a job.
I had my masters before my first year of teaching. I could not imagine trying to go to school at night while teaching the first year. So I guess from my experience I would suggest getting it before teaching.
In my experience a master's for the most part is a plus when it comes to hiring staff. I've helped to interview teachers at my school and that was a plus in almost all cases.
As far as advice for getting into the field and being valuable I would recommend getting certified in as many subjects as you can; after you are initally certified as a teacher in FL all you have to do to add subjects is take the test and pass it. The more you can do the more flexible you can be in tough economic times.
Also for Orange County a master's is seen as a plus when there is a reduction in force or cuts have to happen. One position, two people with exactly the same amount of experience and the one with the master's gets to keep the position.