Should I Take a Pay Cut?

If you can swing it financially...then definitely take the head start assistant position. Your resume will be much more appealing when you apply for teaching positions...and you will already be in with the district.

Good luck!

The decision may make itself once you talk to your current employer. Since there are opportunities elsewhere, you may want to have that talk now. Tell them exactly what you are going to need from them in order to complete your teaching requirements (I'm assuming you mean flexibility in scheduling). If they balk, it's time to walk. Keep in mind, though, that competition for ALL jobs is fierce, so you may apply for one of these other options and still not get the position. Good luck to you, it's not an easy decision.

Okay, here is my two cents! I think that unless you can get it in writting from your employer that they will allow you to do your student teaching in the Spring of 2011, you should go apply and try to get the other job. The fact that you apply does not mean that you will get the job. So first, apply and see how it looks. It is very important to get your foot int he door!!! so if you have the chance to, go for it. Try making plans right now, as if your salary is already cut! see what you can sacrifice and cut from your routine and expenses. Once you get in the school system, it will be much easier for you to transfer elsewhere where you would get better pay or even a raise.
And before you make a decision on staying or going, pray. Pray for wisdom and peace, you will know what to do.
Blessings

Have you talked to your current work about working around your schedule? I'm not saying that is the way to go, but it might help you with your decision if you know what your options really are.

Hi there. I have actually worked in HR and as a teacher, so I hope my advice will be helpful to you. First and foremost, it never hurts to apply for a job. I have seen so many people get so caught up in the "to apply or not to apply" game, but in reality, going through the job search process is an information gathering process for you and the employer. Until you apply, you will have NO idea if they are even interested in you or vice versa. So, I say go ahead and apply... it can't hurt.

Hypothetically speaking, if you were to obtain the job as a teachers assistant I can tell you there is absolutely NOTHING that can prepare you for a teaching career like working in a classroom. You can take all of the classes in the world, but actually working in the classroom is the only place you will gain that first-hand knowledge of what it is like.

As for the paycut issue, I took a paycut several years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. I ended up working in an extremely positive environment and now make way more than I did at my old job. But only you can decide if this will work for you.

I would also have a conversation with your current employer about your student teaching. That is coming up in 6 months and it would only be the responsible thing to do to have that conversation now. Depending upon how flexible (or inflexible) your current employer is, they may or may not be able to accommodate your schedule for 13 weeks. Until you have that conversation, though, you won't know whether or not they'll be able to work with you.

There are many, many school districts that will hire teachers on an emergency certification, but I would be careful here. Again, try to gather as much information as possible before going this route. You could find yourself in the roughest school district, an over-crowded classroom or in a hard-to-fill position. If that is OK with you, then that is one thing. But if you're looking for a job teaching 15 perfectly well-behaved children of a certain age-group, then this might not be the best option for you.

Hope this helps you!

I would seriously consider getting into the district. it has been my experience that they love to hire from within. You will end up with great references also.

Would you be eligible for benefits also? If so that could also help make up for the paycut.

Good luck to you and than you for your decision to become a teacher!

I won't hurt to apply to Head Start and see what happens.

You have a decision to make anyway, are you going to pursue teaching or continue working in that office? Bills do add up and if it makes that much difference then you may not be able to afford to work in the education field. Teachers are being cut left and right everywhere. California laid off thousands of teachers this Spring and combined classes. Many school districts are doing this and teachers are loosing their long term jobs every day. I have a friend who teaches in a small town near Tulsa whose school starts next week and they have been informed their school may be combined with another school district and they may not have jobs next week. She is in Utah looking for a job right now. Teaching jobs are iffy right now so I think I'd keep the office job just in case.

As a teacher, honestly, I say stay where you are. The Head Start job would be great, but you'll have to leave to do your student teaching in the spring, right? That will not look good to a potential employer to have you apply for a position, only to leave mid-way through the school year. When a principal has to replace someone mid-year, it only creates a headache for him/her. And, the likelihood of you getting hired for the assistant position, since you'll have to leave in the spring, isn't very good. Sorry, I know it's probably not what you want to hear.

I think you should go ahead and apply for the Head Start position. Not to sound negative, but applying doesn't guarantee you'll get the job. If you don't apply, you know there's zero chance.
Is your current employer aware at all that you have student teaching requirements or are you saving letting them know that until later?

I don't know about your area, but it's very hard to get teaching jobs here, in fact, they are cutting back, even the teachers who've worked in the system for many years.
Teachers who've already worked in the County school system have a better chance of filling vacancies, but even still it's hard with so many applying for the same positions.

Like I said, I think you should go ahead and apply and see what happens, then take it from there.

I wish you the best.

TAKE THE HEAD START POSITION if it is offered to you! Area schools are looking for "experienced" teachers. I am a student teacher coordinator at an area university and hear all the time that teachers (even with master’s degrees) are being looked over because they do not have enough experience in the classroom. Districts are looking for teachers with curriculum planning and child development experience.

Unless your current job works around your stud. teaching schedule you will likely have to get an evening/weekend job. So, if you are having to leave your job to do your student teaching, then I say stay where you are until then. It's not a good idea to switch to head start just to leave in the middle of the year. This leaves the teacher, principal, and kids in a pinch.

Perhaps you can see if the head start position can be your student teaching. Ask if durung that time period if it can be without pay for a better chance they will say yes. At least then you will have a job when it is over.

Good luck. I see you are in my home town of Longview!

highly likely that they will hire an uncertified teacher. they are in high demand. i would talk to your current employer now and see what the options are. if your uncomfortable with that i would hold on to the job you have for as long as you can. good luck.

It doesn't hurt to apply. The interviewing process will be good experience, but go in knowing that there will be lots of other applicants. If you don't get the offer, then you know what you need to do. If you do get the offer, then plan out a budget and see if you can afford to pay your bills and put aside money in savings. Young people today do not seem to understand the need to have money in savings for all those unexpected expenses that will come up. Otherwise, be thankful to have a job and start getting some good spending habits. Start living on the school district salary and put the rest in savings. If you can live on it, then you will know.

I would apply for the Head Start job and see if you get it. ANYTHING to get your foot in the door at a school district. Teaching jobs are hard to come by these days. Schools are cutting back to the bare bones. And many "stay at homes" or certified teachers who were in other professions are having to return to teaching because of the economy. I graduated in Dec 2007 and still have not been able to secure a teaching position. I am going back to subbing this fall to get my face in front of the principals again.