Landing That First Job

Planning, preparation, and persistence can snag you that primo paycheck.

Photo by Dan Loftin

Any education student eager to begin a teaching career might occasionally think, "I'll take any job, anywhere." Realistically, though, all teachers have important personal priorities and preferences--just as individual schools have diverse hiring needs and procedures. A smart approach to presenting yourself and picking the right school will make a big difference in getting hired--and being satisfied with the job you choose.

The question of where to apply requires careful attention, because schools and the jobs they offer differ greatly.

After Nicole Kendall graduated from college in rural Tennessee, she knew she wanted to teach in an urban setting. But she didn't know where to apply. So Kendall, a fourth-grade teacher at Sylvan Park Elementary School in Nashville, turned to her state Association for advice.

"A lot of times when you're applying in the summer, you're not aware of a school's climate," says Kendall, currently in her third year of teaching. "So I called some members of the Tennessee Education Association and got their advice. They gave me some insight about principals and school atmospheres."

Prospective teachers should start their job searches early, says Jessica Rettler, a fourth-grade teacher at Tri-County Elementary School in Plainfield, Wisconsin. Rettler, now in her third year of teaching, started asking about job opportunities during her student teaching assignment. She secured a position in a neighboring district by the time she graduated. But prospective teachers shouldn't feel pressured to accept the first job offer they receive, she adds.

Instead, new teachers should ask themselves what they need out of a job and not remake themselves for just one job posting.

Another important step is to become an educated reader of salary schedules. "If you're comparing two job openings, it's tempting to place too much emphasis on which has the higher starting salary," says Kimberly Anderson, Student Program coordinator for the Virginia Education Association.

Many districts promote teacher retention by paying higher salaries after about five years, Anderson says. So, if prospective teachers are looking for a community where they can settle down, the long-term salary potential is more important than the starting salary. By contrast, if they plan to move every few years, then a school's starting salary or whether it offers a signing bonus are important considerations, Anderson adds.

Prospective teachers should weigh a job's benefits the same way. "A good health insurance package for you and your family might make up for a low starting salary," Anderson says. New teachers also should find out if their school or district reimburses expenses for any continuing education required by the state.

Working conditions at a school also are important--especially for someone just breaking into the profession.

"A new teacher needs as much support and planning time as possible," says Anderson. "Find out if there's a mentoring program, and, if so, how much time is available for working with a mentor."

New teachers shouldn't underestimate the value of a supportive administrator, either, says Kendall. After her first year of teaching, Kendall learned that her middle school was being consolidated with another school in the district and she needed to find a new position. Kendall enjoyed working with her principal. So when the principal transferred to an elementary school, Kendall applied for a job at that school and transferred as well.

Prospective teachers also need to consider how they present themselves to potential employers. "You obviously want your strengths to outweigh your weaknesses," says Nancy Clark, Student Program coordinator for the Wisconsin Education Association Council. "Look through your whole college experience and identify what you've gained that is marketable, from mastery of content to foreign language skills or working with special needs children."

The final key is persistence.

"If you like several schools, send out as many résumés as you wish," says Fran Pierce, Student Program coordinator for the Pennsylvania State Education Association. "On the other hand, if you're set on one school, don't stop with sending a résumé. Go to the school, check for job postings on their bulletin board, and ask if your application is up to date. Look for ways to meet with the principal."

Kendall says that it's important, too, to remain flexible in your persistence.

"The more flexible you are, the more you learn about what you can offer," she says. "You may not get the job assignment you're looking for, but that exposure may open up other opportunities."

--Matt Simon

Nobody Ever Told Me

Culture Shock
After graduating from college and spending a semester substitute teaching, I left my home in Indiana to accept a position at a school in Chandler, Arizona. My most embarrassing moment occurred mainly because I had relocated from an entirely different region of the country. In Indiana, I taught a diverse population of students, but did not encounter as many Native American students as I found in my class in Arizona. During one lesson in my new school, I wanted all of my students to come and sit in a circle on the floor. So, drawing on what I had heard as a child and what I heard other teachers say, I asked the children to sit "Indian style" on the floor. I received nothing but blank stares from the children. I soon realized what a politically incorrect request I had made. From that day forward, sitting "criss-cross" became a new part of my vocabulary.

Amy Croston
Second-grade teacher
Christiansburg, Virginia

Dilemma:
How do you keep your students focused at the end of the year?

I give each student a raffle ticket. If the student behaves, he or she gets to put the ticket into a large jar. At the end of each week I choose four or five names and those students receive small prizes.

Daria Guenther
Second-grade teacher
Northfield, New Jersey

I have each student write a "news story" about an event the class did during the year. Then, in "news anchor" format, the students deliver their news stories and I videotape their presentations.

Cheryl Osborn
Fifth-grade teacher
Kent, Washington

During the last nine weeks of school my students "build sundaes" to earn passes for an end-of-year banana split party. For each week a student turns in all of his or her homework, the student earns part of the sundae.

Karen Green
Middle school math teacher
Spring Creek, Nevada

At the end of the year I prepare for my classroom auction. As I pack up my classroom, I gather items such as crayons and markers, bookmarks, and stickers to auction off the last week of school. At auction time I think of a number and the child who guesses my number wins the item on the auction block.

Ruthann Etzkorn
Elementary resource teacher
Aberdeen, New Jersey

I give my students a sneak peek at what they can expect when they move onto the next grade. We visit the next grade teacher, find out the daily routine and discipline plan, and incorporate them into our routine.

Tina Snyder
Middle school special education teacher
Lovelock, Nevada

I stick to the regular schedule for as long as possible in June to help my kids focus. They find comfort in the routine. I spice up the routine by using games, hands-on activities, discussions, and group work.

Genevieve Petrillo
Third-grade teacher
Belleville, New Jersey

I create a scavenger hunt with different stations that require students to solve math problems that earn them clues. Students must solve all the clues to reach a final destination on a treasure map, which leads them to a treasure box filled with donated prizes.

Deborah Gendreau
Middle school math and science teacher
St. Agatha, Maine

At the end of every semester, I ask my students to evaluate my teaching skills and the health curriculum. I also ask them to list the health topics they find interesting and helpful. I use this information to identify their favorite unit and save it for the end of the year.

Deborah L. Tackmann
High school health education teacher
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Two-Minute Tips

Class Harmony
To get my students' attention, I blow a harmonica. When the students hear the harmonica, they know to stop what they are doing, look at me, and listen quietly. I have the kindergarten and first-grade students put their hands on their heads as well, which they think is fun. I wear the harmonica around my neck at all times and use it with all my students, in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Alan Pilkenton
Lansing, Michigan

Student Participation
To ensure that I call on all of my students equally, I put everyone's name on an index card. I keep the deck of cards with me and instead of calling on students who raise their hands, I call on the student whose card appears next in the deck. This helps me make sure I'm not just calling on those students who raise their hands. It also keeps my students on their toes since they never know when their card will come up next.

Jennifer Caldwell
Grant County, Kentucky

Resources

Educator's Job Search
Forget about skimming the classified ads for a great job. The Educator's Job Search, available for $10 from the NEA Professional Library, will give you the tips and tricks you need to land the job of your dreams. This interactive guide includes exercises to help you identify and promote your job strengths, write an impressive résumé, master job interviews, maintain a job network, stay motivated, and evaluate the job offers you get. To order a copy, call 800/229-4200 or visit http://home.nea.org/books/.

Teachers-Teachers.com
Want to speed up your job search? Visit www.teachers-teachers.com. This free service allows applicants to post their résumés and cover letters online, search for jobs by location, receive notices by e-mail about available teaching positions, view school websites, and send application materials electronically. You can even record an interview that hiring schools and districts can review.

Quick Tips
Looking for helpful classroom tips? Check out NEA's Works4Me website at www.nea.org/tips/. You can sign up for free weekly e-mail tips submitted by other teachers. The site also links to the Works4Me Tips Library, an archive of more than 400 helpful tips submitted to the list. You'll find suggestions for staying organized, managing your class, working with technology, building relationships with parents, and improving your teaching techniques. You also can access the tips through OWL's "My Profession" channel at www.owl.org.