Not getting hired over lack of experience

[JCShutout]

About the 5th teaching job where I've blown them away in the interviews, my expertiese in EVERY area of Theology impresses them, which implies an ability to teach ANY CLASS they need. They say I have the perfect personality, tone, presence, and classroom management (when I've taught a class as part of the interview process), and will be a phenominal teacher.

but again, they go with someone with experience, despite the obvious upside they readily admit I show.

I've grilled these people, and they all say the only single thing missing is experience. And please call them when I have even a year a subbing under my belt... so showing a movie to a class here and there and not having to acomplish much occasionally will make me a better year-long teacher? That's BS

Earth to Catholic schools: YOU CAN'T GET EXPERIENCE IF NO ONE HIRES YOU.

this is why I'm considering a move to public schools.

[InvincibleCakeEater]

You're getting Brian Barton'ed man.

[cardinalkarp]

You're getting Brian Barton'ed man.

LOL

[BenNX74205]

Classroom experience is incredibly important when looking to hire a teacher. I see your argument that you can't get experience without a job, but if you had been in an education program undergrad, or done a masters in education program, part of that work would involve student teaching while paired with a mentor teacher. They give you a lot of guidance, and schools really do want to know you can actually perform in front of the classroom, and convey the information in that setting.

I'm not saying you wouldn't make a great teacher, but the requirement for experience is something all schools basically look for. If you had an education certification/masters, you would be able to get hired without having "taught" anywhere. You just need experience in a classroom. Just get on the substitute roster for the next year in St. Louis County--all you need is 60 hours of undergrad college credit to qualify. You'll make some money, you'll get some experience, and you will be MUCH more "hirable" in a very short time.

I know a lot about this stuff because the future Mrs. NX74205 did an undergrad education program and received her certification. Experience is the most powerful commodity a teaching candidate can offer to a school looking to hire.

[sighyoung]

About the 5th teaching job where I've blown them away in the interviews, my expertiese in EVERY area of Theology impresses them, which implies an ability to teach ANY CLASS they need. They say I have the perfect personality, tone, presence, and classroom management (when I've taught a class as part of the interview process), and will be a phenominal teacher.

but again, they go with someone with experience, despite the obvious upside they readily admit I show.

I've grilled these people, and they all say the only single thing missing is experience. And please call them when I have even a year a subbing under my belt... so showing a movie to a class here and there and not having to acomplish much occasionally will make me a better year-long teacher? That's BS

Earth to Catholic schools: YOU CAN'T GET EXPERIENCE IF NO ONE HIRES YOU.

this is why I'm considering a move to public schools.

JC, were you a graduate teaching assistant? Also, do these schools have any suggestions about getting that experience, or getting a foot in the door as a substitute teacher?

This reminds me of the job market for ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers in universities. Because of the number of applicants, teaching experience stands out to them (particularly, having a range of course preparations). These candidates often had to teach at the junior college level or high school level to arrive at a point where they were competitive.

So, is there a summer course or other kind of class you can pick up on the side to get that experience? Also, where did other applicants get theirs?

[StatmanCrothers]

Is there another more experienced teacher you could kidnap, and assume the identity of?

[JCShutout]

You're getting Brian Barton'ed man.

I almost used that analogy when I made this thread.

Classroom experience is incredibly important when looking to hire a teacher. I see your argument that you can't get experience without a job, but if you had been in an education program undergrad, or done a masters in education program, part of that work would involve student teaching while paired with a mentor teacher. They give you a lot of guidance, and schools really do want to know you can actually perform in front of the classroom, and convey the information in that setting.

I'm not saying you wouldn't make a great teacher, but the requirement for experience is something all schools basically look for. If you had an education certification/masters, you would be able to get hired without having "taught" anywhere. You just need experience in a classroom. Just get on the substitute roster for the next year in St. Louis County--all you need is 60 hours of undergrad college credit to qualify. You'll make some money, you'll get some experience, and you will be MUCH more "hirable" in a very short time.

I know a lot about this stuff because the future Mrs. NX74205 did an undergrad education program and received her certification. Experience is the most powerful commodity a teaching candidate can offer to a school looking to hire.

Everyone is so impressed with my expertiese, that implies my MA in theology, not education. I'm going to go get that, but it just seems silly.

I also taught a class at each of these interviews, with great reviews on my classroom management, ability to get point across, interaction with the students (phenominal reviews in this category), and the ability to create exercizes from scratch which were helpful in learning the marerial. I was also lauded for picking up from where the teacher had left off, incorporating the students' homework readings assignments into the material being taught, etc.

I just think its silly that substitute work, where you don't have to develop of follow a semester-long syllabus, don't have to really get much done, and probably show movies a lot of the time, really prep you for teaching more than just being so much of an expert in the field that you can deal with any question the kids throw at you.

Additionally, for Theology, it is fairly common for someone to get hired w/o teaching experience. The two people being replaced at this most recent school were both hired right out of their undergraduate BA (without a teaching double-major). It must just be a rough time where there are a lot of experienced people in the market.

[M1IRONMIKE]

About the 5th teaching job where I've blown them away in the interviews, my expertiese in EVERY area of Theology impresses them, which implies an ability to teach ANY CLASS they need. They say I have the perfect personality, tone, presence, and classroom management (when I've taught a class as part of the interview process), and will be a phenominal teacher.

but again, they go with someone with experience, despite the obvious upside they readily admit I show.

I've grilled these people, and they all say the only single thing missing is experience. And please call them when I have even a year a subbing under my belt... so showing a movie to a class here and there and not having to acomplish much occasionally will make me a better year-long teacher? That's BS

Earth to Catholic schools: YOU CAN'T GET EXPERIENCE IF NO ONE HIRES YOU.

this is why I'm considering a move to public schools.

CAN YOU TEACH IZTURIS TO HIT?

[BenNX74205]

Everyone is so impressed with my expertiese, that implies my MA in theology, not education. I'm going to go get that, but it just seems silly.

I also taught a class at each of these interviews, with great reviews on my classroom management, ability to get point across, interaction with the students (phenominal reviews in this category), and the ability to create exercizes from scratch which were helpful in learning the marerial. I was also lauded for picking up from where the teacher had left off, incorporating the students' homework readings assignments into the material being taught, etc.

I just think its silly that substitute work, where you don't have to develop of follow a semester-long syllabus, don't have to really get much done, and probably show movies a lot of the time, really prep you for teaching more than just being so much of an expert in the field that you can deal with any question the kids throw at you.

Additionally, for Theology, it is fairly common for someone to get hired w/o teaching experience. The two people being replaced at this most recent school were both hired right out of their undergraduate BA (without a teaching double-major). It must just be a rough time where there are a lot of experienced people in the market.

I can't speak for theology as a field of education, but it seems like one that is not going to be in as high demand in general. I would assume the people being replaced were hired some time ago, and in general a lot has changed. My mother was a junior college professor, and when she was hired 25 years ago all she needed was a PhD. Now to get hired at her same junior college, applicants have basically needed multiple published papers in their field to get hired. Again, this is only a junior college, but I think parallels can be drawn to high school.

At my fiancee's school (she is an English teacher), the english department chair did not even have a BA in English! That kind of thing seems to be happening less and less across the english/social studies areas (which probably includes theology). I didn't know you taught a sample class or whatever, but it's really still not the same thing. Don't take this the wrong way, but it's really just the way teaching has moved. There are a lot of qualified candidates out there that have trouble finding work, so experience is something schools are looking for. More than one of my fiancee's co-workers had to move out to VA from Michigan to teach because there literally are NO teaching jobs in their field in the entire state.

So I would really suggest either getting a masters in education or just subbing high school for a year. With your other qualifications, all you need is to be able to put down some form of experience. Again, doesn't make complete sense, but the market is a lot fuller now than it was even 10 years ago.

[lukethedrifter]

You do know what's going on here, don't you?

Am I going to have to spell it out for you?


Er, I think I'm joking but maybe not after a bit of thought