Calling All Teachers (Teachers in Texas Would Be Great)

C&S1030 · January 2011

What do you know about alternative certifications? Are they "legit"? I have been thinking about it but feel that an alternative certification may not be the best way to go.

MariaIsMarried · January 2011

Here in CT our Alternative Route to Certification is for high needs areas and run by the state -- so obviously legit. Are you looking for an area that is high needs? I didn't do an ARC program because I wanted (and am) an elementary teacher and its a saturated area. I know that the market for teachers in TX is much better than the rest of the country.

*wicket* · January 2011

I got licensed in MA through the alternative program. It only allows you to teach for 5 years before making yourself "legit." I'm in my 5th full year now. My 2 options were either to complete student teaching (not going to quit my job to do it for free), or to pay this state-approved company to work with me to evaluate my current job. I opted for that one. I had to pay $2,500 to this company. It gets me an advisor to observe me 3x in my classroom, advice on my portfolio . . . and that's about it. I've completed the observations and have probably another hour or so to put the final touches on my portfolio. At that point, I'll be just like any other teacher who went through the standard process to become licensed.

PS - I also got an MEd 2 years ago, which waived the education training courses I'd need to take as well.

AggieDaner · January 2011

Most alternative certification places are perfectly legitimate, but they don't do much to prepare you for the reality of the classroom. Alternatively, university programs tend to prepare you much more thoroughly, though they will almost certainly charge you an arm and a leg and take 2+ years to complete (even if you already have a degree).

Have you done any substitute teaching or assistant teaching? Do you know for a fact that your districts are hiring? I'm in Austin and our main district is in a complete financial meltdown, they're cutting 500+ jobs as we speak. The surrounding districts are faring slightly better, but thanks to Governor Hairspray's genius budgeting techniques they're all having to slim down as well. Definitely be 100% positive there is a job waiting for you before you sign up for any certification program, the market is horribly frustrating right now.

Good luck, and I hope that helped!

NSL · January 2011

I got my certification through an alt cert program run by my local UT campus five years ago. The previous posters are right that it did next to nothing to prepare me for the classroom, but it did at least get me into a teaching job where I had a wonderful mentor teacher who really went above and beyond for me during my first two years teaching.

Look into both brick-and-mortar university programs and the one run by your local Education Service Center. The latter programs are quite short, while the former require you to complete at least half of a Master's program in Education. DEFINITELY make sure your local districts are hiring (and that they hire alt cert candidates) before you start paying tuition to anyone.

C&S1030 · January 2011

Thank you all for your input.

UT Dallas offers a great post-baccalaureate teacher certification program (not alternative) but it is pretty expensive. I feel this route would better prepare me for the classroom, like you all mentioned.

Some districts around here are only hiring for particular positions... like high needs and secondary math and science teachers. Some districts accept alternative certifications for those same positions only.

Dallas ISD actually offers an alternaitve certification program themselves but it is a pretty troubled school district. I am just wary of the for profit companies who offer ACP's.

It's crazy how times have changed. Being a teacher used to mean you had a job for life. Now it is as competive as ever. Unfortunately, the kids will suffer the most.

rubyiu · January 2011

I got certified through an alternate program as well, called "Transition to Teaching." Google it in your state and see where they have it - it's a nationwide program. I applied for jobs in my field, got one, then I took 1 class/semester (1 night a week) for 2 years and I got the credit to upgrade my certificate. You can also get a Masters through the program, but I had one already.

This rocked for me! What area are you looking to teach? I'm in a higher need area (Spanish) so it was no problem to get a job. English and social studies jobs are the ones that are a dime a dozen.

justbeachy20 · January 2011

I'm not sure how this works in TX, but take a look a districts that are high-need. In Maryland, several school districts have programs to recruit teachers to specific areas (around here, it's Special Ed, and high school math and science). You start the program in the spring/summer, and then teach while you continue coursework towards a permanent certification. The district I was looking at paid for everything; unfortunately, the content area I'm interested in (early childhood/elementary) was cut last year. I will say that along with being high-need, these are also often areas that are poverty-stricken.

AggieDaner:
Most alternative certification places are perfectly legitimate, but they don't do much to prepare you for the reality of the classroom. Alternatively, university programs tend to prepare you much more thoroughly, though they will almost certainly charge you an arm and a leg and take 2+ years to complete (even if you already have a degree).

I agree with this, but I would also look at university programs to see if there are any partnerships with school districts. In some instances, partnerships might pay for a portion of your tuition while you get certified. I'm currently in a program that results in an M.A.T., provides a year's worth of experience as a "teacher of record" (you're actually a long-term sub, but for the entire year, so the class is essentially yours), and also puts you in line for a priority consideration for a teaching contract at the end of the 18-month program. I'll admit that this program is unique, but I've just started coursework, proving that they do exist.

It really seems like each state has their own unique way of getting career-changing teachers into the classroom. You might want to see if there are any teachers on your local board, but definitely look at Texas's state department of education (or whatever they call it)--I've found the MD equivalent to be indispensable as I've waded through this process.

Best of luck!

kkgossett678 · January 2011

I used Texas Teachers for my alternative certification, but I agree, it alone does not prepare you for the classroom. I was a substitute teacher while I was working on my certification and that is how I ended up with my teaching job. It also helped me see what kind of things I would experience while teaching.

gwynnetx · January 2011

check out this website:

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=7073

as for the pp who said that the teacher job market here in texas is better than the rest of the country, i would disagree. austin isd just eliminated almost 500 positions because of the expected budget shortfall. the legislature will not come to a decision until possibly may, so all school districts are preparing for the worst. this is the first year in the 12 years i've been a teacher that i'm worried about losing my job. and we may not know until june whether or not we have a job next year. it's really scary.

here's an article about it, focusing on north texas:

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/North-Texas-educators-alarmed-by-coming-budget-cuts-114528689.html

eta: as a current teacher, i would be really hesitant to recommend to anyone spending money to become a teacher right now. the universities are already churning out teachers who will not find jobs, the budget's a mess, and school districts are freaking out and instituting hiring freezes and cutting jobs.

you might look at this forum for posts regarding teaching specifically in texas:

http://texas.teachers.net/chatboard

starrynight1658 · February 2011

I'm a little late coming to this post but wanted to add my two cents. I was recently at a education law conference, and it was mentioned that the federal government is currently working on legislature that would say teachers who have received their certification through alternate routes wouldn't be considered "highly qualified" under NCLB. Obviously this has huge implications for a lot of teachers, but I think it's also important for those who are considering this route to know....

This article mentions a little bit about the debate and how it started.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/school_law/2010/09/federal_highly_qualified_teach.html

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