School teacher

I am getting beat down by these physical jobs... I keep looking for and accepting these jobs because I really enjoy the freedom of running a route and driving around rural Georgia and all that... but the physical part is starting to wear me down.... knees, back, etc...

So...

I have only a smattering of college... a few credits here and there, nothing cohesive at all... so basically I would be starting from scratch.

I think I want to be a teacher... they make pretty good money here - compared to the crappy jobs I have been taking lately! My sister-in-law teaches in Atlanta and says that there is always a shortage of teachers, so once you get the degree and teaching certificate you will get a job - immediately. I speak Spanish so that would also help me get accepted quickly, especially in Special Ed areas such as second language classes, etc.

I would go to school, and continue with my crappy job or jobs as the case may be until I graduate.

I am still applying and waiting for a couple of civil service positions to come available, but getting hired on at Fort Benning is really frustrating... you apply, and wait forever just to find out you were not accepted.... or they decided you were not qualified, etc... I am probably not writing up my "resume" to make it fit their job description or something... not sure, since there is literally nobody you can talk to and find out what happened!

Anyway, that's what I am thinking... long term, 4 year plan...

Whaddya think?

Good Morning Marc.....

I think if this is something you want to do you should go for it.
Teaching is a great profession and I think you would be good at it.

Let us know what you decide.

Hugs, connie d

i always always wanted to teach and for various reasons never got to school...and i am not able to commit now to anything to get me to a certificate before i turn a million years old so i say go for it!!!

DUDE!!!!!!!!!! GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!

HUGS

I think that is excellent Marc....I always have a 5 year plan...even at 67 years old....I am starting to take Spani****his fall, in fact have the brochure on my desk here.  Ihope to be fluent in Spanish in 5 years...because I do want to move to the south later on......if I ever give up real estate, which I don't plan to for many years.

I believe if you don't have a plan, you are just "Putting in Your Tme on Planet Earth"..an old Ben Sidran lyric from my hippie days in the 1970's...

Go for it.....you have nothing to lose, believe me you don't want to be doing a physical job in your 60's. Marti

Marc, you should do it...good teachers are always needed, I've read about many people who in our slightly more mature age group leave their lifelong postions to go back to school and then teach...you never hear anything but positive comments from them.  I have a niece who is an elementary school principal and she has been trying to get me to go back to school and  move to Arizona to teach, she says they have such a shortage of teachers there, especially Spanish speaking.I would have to learn Spanish too, and right now my husband and I are not ready to leave this area.  Good luck to you if you decide to do this! Paulette

AS THEY SAY, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START ANYTHING NEW.  IF THAT IS WHAT YOUR HEART DESIRES, THEN, GO FOR IT!!  IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE , THEN PERHAPS YOU CAN BE AN ASSISTANT TEACHER??  I REALLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT BUT, IF YOUR WIFE AGREES WITH IT THEN, DO IT.

Hiya Marc,. I love your plan, I hope you do not have to keep up your "crappy jobs" for 4 years!! I think Atlanta is stifling in the summer,but I guess you are used to it...
Bravo,pursue your dreams!!

I'm a speech therapist in a public school and I love it... that being said, teaching is not for everyone. I have seen individuals spend the 5 years in college to get the credential and then decide to go into real estate because they just can't handle the teaching job. It is hard- and people don't respect teachers as much as they did in years past. If I were you I would volunteer at the grade level or subject that you would consider teaching- just get a feel for it before you go too far. You will need a BA and after that at least a year of graduate work/student teaching. In some areas of need- math and science mostly, there are special programs in some areas and maybe loans/grants. If you work in low performing schools there are sometimes perks to help you get through school.
Julia

 Hi Marc,

I work in Personnel at a school district in California (hiring teachers). It's not true that we always need teachers; in fact many teachers in California are losing their jobs. Another thing that people considering teaching in California in their middle years is that teachers in California do not pay into social security. Many are shocked when they find this out. Teachers here pay into CalSTRS and when they retire social security will deduct any government pension money from their social security. I highly advise you to check both of these items out prior to your commitment to going back to school. Please let me know if you need any other information regarding IRS rulings pertaining to this or checkout the IRS website.

Good luck!

Kathie