Background
Becoming a teacher is my career choice because even when economies begin to stall, the need for educators will always be high. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs in libraries, training, and education will rise by 10% over the next decade, which is about 100,000 extra educators (König et al., 2020). As a teacher, I will not have to worry about job security. Despite the challenges of the career, such as creating lesson plans and collaborating with parents, it is my passion to be a teacher.
Pros and Cons
The advantage of being a teacher is that I can make an actual difference in the students ‘ and their families ‘ lives. A teacher is responsible for meeting students’ varying needs and celebrating their success (McLean et al., 2019). I will also help the learners nurture their dreams and see possibilities. Another advantage is job security since there will always be a need for teachers (McLean et al., 2019). In addition, I will have career mobility in teaching as I can get into counseling, social work, or administration when I am out of the classroom.
The disadvantage of being a teacher is that there are limited promotion options. I can be trapped in the same position for years without limited possibilities for advancement. Another disadvantage is that teaching can be mentally and emotionally taxing (McLean et al., 2019). For example, teaching maths in high school requires solid knowledge of numbers, which is daunting.
Lastly, parents can object to the teaching method and how the learners are handled (McLean et al., 2019). This is especially true when the learners are failing at a specific subject.
Aspects of Teaching Career
People in teaching say there are some enjoyable aspects of the career. For instance, every day in the profession is different as there are varying challenges daily (Steinert et al., 2019). Rather than getting stuck in the usual 8-4 job, I can create fun teaching games, projects, and worksheets with the students.
Another enjoyable aspect is experiencing the rewarding process of watching the learners’ improvements, successes, and growth (Steinert et al., 2019). Seeing a learner have the light bulb instant is fulfilling when all eventually clicks. Lastly, I get to constantly learn new skills as I need to keep up with the learning trends.
People in teaching say there are some frustrating aspects, such as pressure from parents and the administration and behavior management. Collaboration between the teacher, student, and parent is among the most pressing classroom challenges (Steinert et al., 2019). Parents do not support students outside the classroom, yet they blame educators when they fail (Steinert et al., 2019). School administrators are also pressuring teachers to create new teaching methods to improve student learning. Lastly, it is hard for a teacher to control student behavior while trying to stay on top of the curriculum and emerging classroom trends.
Job Analysis
There are specific education requirements and preparations needed to become a teacher. The initial step is undertaking an education bachelor’s degree program (Steinert et al., 2019). The second requirement is to demonstrate basic competence, general knowledge, and knowledge in a specific subject area (Steinert et al., 2019). Lastly, I must take the teacher certification exam related to my study course and the state in which I want to be certified as a proficient educator.
Due to the vital role of teachers, they can expect high wages in their careers. As of March 2023, the average salary for entry-level educators in America is $42,514 (König et al., 2020). However, the salary ranges between $35,000 and $56,000 depending on the state (König et al., 2020). For instance, the average salary for teachers in the District of Columbia is $56,313.
The vast disparity among states depends on the cost of living and the funding a particular school district gets. Other important factors in determining salary ranges include certifications, the number of years spent as a teacher, education, and additional skills. However, teachers can expect their salaries to increase as they level up their crafts.
The typical retirement age differs based on certain factors. However, it is estimated that 62 is the average retirement age for teachers in the United States (Hughes, n.d.). For example, university professors have a higher average retirement age than teachers. In addition, wealthier individuals with high education attainment levels can proceed to work after their regular retirement age.
However, different rules apply to teachers working as federal employees. 55 to 57 is the average age at which they retire and get their benefits (Hughes, n.d.). Also, teachers can undertake immediate voluntary retirement, which combines years of service and age to determine the number of benefits to get.
Teaching is likely to impact various stages of my life in varying ways. First, teaching will affect my self-image and how I define myself. Since I will encounter many people in my career, there is a high probability that other people will determine how I perceive myself in the long run.
Secondly, while undergoing varying career stages, there is a high likelihood of redefining beliefs and assumptions and making self-assessments based on professional practices (McLean et al., 2019). In addition, I will have to evaluate my self-image to boost my self-esteem. It will not only emerge from the appreciation of my job performance but also from the feedback I get from others.
Several organizations serve people in teaching careers. For instance, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) congregates administrators and teachers worldwide (Steinert et al., 2019). Members of the organization gain access to conferences and workshops to acquire opportunities to improve their teaching skills. The Association of American Educators (AAE) is another organization that offers professional advocacy and development for teachers (Steinert et al., 2019). It also advocates for proper management of education facilities, high parental involvement, and better student results in the learning field.
Job growth is expected for high school, middle school, elementary school, and kindergarten teachers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics advises that the job outlook for teachers will rise by 4% by 2030 (König et al., 2020). Location is a significant determinant of job availability. In addition, budgetary constraints and the population of a particular state will determine the number of teachers required in a specific school district. Lastly, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of classes offered online (König et al., 2020). Although many learning institutions were not prepared for online teaching, the curriculum is adapting to the growing technology to ensure the future of online teaching is successful.
Conclusion
In conclusion, teachers are essential in the community by educating and preparing children for college and careers. The most attractive aspect of teaching is that I can make a difference in the students’ lives by nurturing their dreams and possibilities. The less attractive aspect is that it can be mentally and emotionally draining. In addition, high pressure is expected from the parents, administrators, and learners. However, teaching is a well-paying job with a positive outlook, irrespective of the challenges.
References
Hughes, M. (n.d.). How many years are teachers required to work before they can retire? Web.
König, J., Jäger-Biela, D. J., & Glutsch, N. (2020). Adapting to online teaching during COVID-19 school closure: Teacher education and teacher competence effects among early career teachers in Germany. European Journal of Teacher Education, 43(4), 608-622. Web.
McLean, L., Taylor, M., & Jimenez, M. (2019). Career choice motivations in teacher training as predictors of burnout and career optimism in the first year of teaching. Teaching and Teacher Education, 85(1), 204-214. Web.
Steinert, Y., O’Sullivan, P. S., & Irby, D. M. (2019). Strengthening teachers’ professional identities through faculty development. Academic Medicine, 94(7), 963-968. Web.