For those teaching and looking for a job (I assume all of us here lol), what would you say are the hardest fields to come by in education?
In some areas, elementary ed. I've also heard social studies and English positions are hard to get into as well. Social Studies normally require some coaching responsibilities to go along with teaching.
I don't think it makes a difference if your female or not. We have a female assistant boys basketball coach. Anyway, the coaching jobs that are available are probably freshman teams and jv teams. Sometimes they just want a warm body to watch the kids.
As others have said... Elementary positions are very tough to land, especially if you're in a more "settled" area without many new neighborhoods and schools. Those sorts of areas have life-long teachers who stay in one position for 30 years. Anything at the high school level in a popular subject area is also hard to get. English and social studies are the two that come to mind. People who can teach more unusual, more specialized, and sometimes less desirable subjects have an easier time finding jobs. Foreign language, math, and science all require specialized skill sets. Special ed positions are very often available even in districts with a hiring freeze, but a lot of people burn out in special ed, especially if that's not where their passion is. You're probably always better off if you can teach a variety of subject areas and grade levels, and if you can coach or sponsor a club. (This is coming from someone who is only certified to teach 7-12 Latin.)
Secondary art and music positions don't come up often in my area. Computer positions are extremely rare, too. For all of these someone has to die, retire, or relocate for an opening. That being said.... I've been teaching English language arts for 2 years waiting for a social studies position.
New Jersey is desperate for elementary and special education teachers. They'll practically give you a license to teach here as long as you have a valid one from another state. From what I heard for middle and high school grades, science and math are the subjects most highly needed. For example, my fiance is going to be teaching physics and math--- he'll be hired probably while he's doing his student teaching. I'm doing biology and I was hired within 3 months of job searching.
Around here, the hardest education job to find is adolescence social studies, just because it seems that over half of the adolescence education majors are social studies. I never realized until my current position as an academic advisor in my education department that this was the case (I always thought that elementary was the hardest). After that, though, elementary is the next most difficult job to come by then Adolescence English. Jobs that it seems like districts are always looking for on the other had are: school librarian-media specialists and adolescence math, science and foreign language.
It depends where in NJ, though Bio...although the baby boomers are starting to retire, elem ed jobs are still few and far between compared to the number of applicants. When I was looking 4 and 5 years ago, there were usually 500 applicants for a single elem ed position. One of my former practicum students is now looking and one of the positions she interviewed for had 500 apps for 4 positions. I think the special area subjects are also hard at times because there tends to only be one or two of them at each elem school.
Elementary positions in my area. I'm looking again and kinda scared. Also, popular subjects like English and Social Studies. Special areas are hard to get in as well, like gym, art, and music.
I'd have to agree, our district seems to have a surplus of SS and LA positions. Although coaching doesn't seem to be attached to SS at the middle school level Math and science jobs are available every year.
Where in NJ are you? I live in central Jersey, and it is near impossible to find an elementary teaching job around here. I was one of the VERY few people in my graduating class to get a teaching job in a public school this year. I have close friends who have been looking for a teaching position for more than a year. If there is somewhere in NJ desperate for elementary teachers, please share so I can direct my friends!
I'm in Monmouth County and with all the developments coming up around my area, we're actually planning on spending more $$ on schools and building new ones. One top of that, we have daycare and non-public schools popping up like crazy here. Perhaps its because I'm in an area where alot of NYC people are moving their families that teachers have been alot luckier.
I've been told that life sciences (home ec.) is hard to land since they usually only hire one to two new teachers per year per district.
Social studies, english and elementary ed are hard to come by here. I was lucky to get a Social Studies job my first year looking, in MI no less. But I have THREE certifications. History, Social Studies and Psychology. Psych is one of those speciality ones, and while considered a social science, it also has a science element so you need to know some basic anatomy and biology to teach it. If schools around here don't have a certified teacher in that area, normally they cancel the class. I think that helped me get the interview that led to my current job. If I was just straight social studies or history, I wouldn't have a job, unless of course I could coach. Most of the schools around here have male social studies teachers who also coach. I think social studies/history is so hard to get into because the teachers "professors" pontificate from their podiums until they perish! LOL
One of my fellow student teacher told me that she was looking for a life sciences position. I had no clue what that meant and she said that it meant home ec. In my ST district, the biology buzz word is 'Man and his environment'
I am curious about your certifications - my degree is a BS in Secondary Social Studies Ed with certifications in World History, US History, World Geography, and Government for grades 5 - 12 (departmentized only). I can only teach in those areas. So when you say you can teach social studies, what content areas does that cover?
I had the same questions as you INteacher. I guess every state is different. When I graduate, I will have a double major in Social Studies and History with a concentration in Sociology and a minor in adol. education (grades 7 through 12 or ages 12 through 21). I'm hoping it will land me a job someplace. For you, Buck8Teacher, where abouts in Ohio are you? I'm in the Cleveland area and it is the WORSE area imo for finding a job. Even Cleveland schools has a waiting list for new applicants! I'm hoping to get a job in the Columbus, Ohio area since that vicinity is starting to grow.
In MI a social studies certification can be used for the following areas: Social Studies, Economics, Geography, History, Michigan History, Political Science, American Government, U.S. History, Civics, Western Hemisphere, Eastern Hemisphere, Current Events And with the History degree I can teach these subjects: History, Michigan History, U.S. History, World History, European History, Current Events Any class that is not titled inm the above areas I CANNOT teach, even if it is an exploritory class. But having the certifications I do does give me a lot of freedom. Also according to MI rules, if you have graduated in the last few years, you can also teach basic computer classes without a certification for them due to the increased requirements for computer classes for a teaching degree. This information for MI can be found here: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/education/programs/endorsements.pdf
WOW - how many hours did your degree require in all those areas? I guess I should have added with my license I can teach Indiana History, Current Problems (current events) and any history class. That is a very impressive list of content areas to teach. Are all SS grads in MI following the same course work to teach social studies?
Yes, you have to take the same number of classes. As for me, I had to go back and pick up the social studies minor to make my student teaching acceptable (seems the rules changed as I was placed and after the year, it wouldn't have been good to have done social studies with only a history major) and I have two BS degrees. So while I had enough credits in social studies to qualify for the miajor (it has to be a major in SS in MI, not a minor), I had to pick up certain required classes to get it. So overall between the two majors I have 70+ credits in those areas, but that is more credits than is needed. Psych is only a minor for me, but again, I have a few more credits than I need for it. I guess I like to take the long route to a goal! LOL
wlywall - I know you have mentioned several times how fortunate you feel getting a job your first year out - but now I see you were fortunate because you can teach EVERYTHING Now it makes your old principal look even dumber to get rid of someone who can teach EVERYTHING I would think even in a tight job market your qualifications have to stand out.
LOL Thanks, I do think he is dumb. The best part of the qualifications I have is my district moves people all the time, the more qualifications you have, the less likely you are to get laid off. They can move me into almost any social studies position that comes open, which is how I ended up in the middle school from hell. Tuesday we get our assignment letters for next year, and because of the situation I am in, I will likely be told I am displaced or laid off. However, unless I get rid of the plan I am on by May 15, I cannot bid on open jobs and I will remain unemployed for now. If the re-eval goes badly then I won't be employable by the district again. Sigh, I hate the not knowing.
