It is inherently respectable, possibly even noble. Pay isn't generous, but vacation time is. Benefits aren't bad. And unlike most professions, teaching is not closed to mid-life neophytes. The need for teachers is great, after all. Over the next decade, roughly a million teachers will retire, and their replacements will not be enough to keep up with growing student populations.
But most prospective newbies need something of a tutorial on what it takes to get from thinking about teaching to standing in front of a class. Some assume it's simply a matter of letting schools know you're available. No offense, but regardless of your deep knowledge of something or other and your excellent communication skills, that's not going to cut it. Public school teachers cannot be anointed; they must be credentialed according to standards which vary from state to state.
State credentialing procedures are controversial; many educators question their value. Independent schools don't require state certification, but since most of them have their own accreditation protocols through the National Association of Independent Schools, getting hired by a reputable private school is not a cakewalk, especially for someone coming late to the teaching profession. In any case, the number of private-school jobs is minute compared to those in public schools.
Alternative routes to certification exist, but they are not shortcuts. Teach for America corps members can teach on a temporary license and receive financial aid while attending state-approved training programs. The path to becoming fully credentialed still takes a year or two. Experience Corps volunteers require less training, because they are not full-fledged teachers; they assist them, working in classrooms with individual students.
A bachelor's degree is essential but not sufficient to teach in a public school. Further requirements usually involve a program lasting from one to two years, depending on your level of prior education and whether you're enrolled part- or full-time. There is usually a ferocious exam and a student-teaching stint, often in an under-served or poor district. Then you'll spend a good chunk of time familiarizing yourself with the textbooks and other materials you'll be using. And all of this will happen before you ever face a class on your own. If you remain unfazed, here’s how you might proceed:
Find out about certification requirements for each state here and here.
The Bureau of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook for teachers is full of good information on requirements, working conditions and salary ranges. Teaching is not the occupation to choose if you're looking to make big bucks, but it isn't philanthropy either.
Looking ahead to when you'll be student teaching, read and then bookmark the National Education Association's Management Tips for New Teachers. Most of the tips are pretty basic -- learn the students' names and use them, figure out your teaching goals and stick to them, avoid ambiguous wording on tests and assignments -- but they add up to a very useful beginner's checklist. Also worth looking at before you start in the classroom are these Techniques that Backfire.
Many of the numerous online teacher training and placement services have 800 numbers you can call for further information. For a more localized view, visit your Yellow Pages, where chances are good you'll find a consultant eager to talk.
A long-time high school teacher once told me, "If I had a dime for everyone who told me they dreamed of teaching, I could retire." It's probably just as well that everyone who's curious about teaching doesn't end up doing it. Teaching is decidedly not for everyone. If you are used to getting your way without much discussion, teaching might be a stretch. If you think your work day will end at three because the school day does, you need to rethink. Also true if repeating yourself is anathema, if you have a short fuse or if you just aren't much good at organizing your time.
On the other hand, if you get pleasure from helping someone else succeed, if you enjoy watching young people fuss and grow, and it you want to be a force for good beyond your immediate circle of family and friends, then teaching just might be your next big thing.
More Resources for Would-Be Teachers:
RecruitingNewTeachers.com
Become a Teacher
U.S. Department of Education
Become a Teacher
TeachersCount.com
I Wanna Teach
Edutopia
The George Lucas Educational Foundation
EdWeek.org
The Home of Teacher Magazine
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