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Becoming
a public school teacher requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree
that encompasses a major field of study, such as early childhood education,
special education, teaching of English as a second language, English and
mathematics, among others.
The courses that students are required to take to earn their education degree are determined by each state’s teacher certification requirements.
What courses are taken in a teacher education
program?
Required courses generally include professional education courses,
such as the history of education and psychology of learning, methods of
teaching, teaching a specific subject area, and student teaching in an
elementary or secondary school classroom.
How do I choose a teacher education program?
There are several considerations for choosing an education program:
How do I find teacher education programs?
Good sources for information on teacher education programs include the following: Barron’s Index to College Majors (Barron’s Educational Series), The College Blue Book, Degrees Offered by College and Subject (Macmillan and Co.), Index of Majors (College Entrance Examination Board); and Peterson’s Guides. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) publishes an annual list of accredited schools, colleges, and departments of education.
Where can I find information on various state
requirements?
Each state’s education department or licensing office is the most
reliable source for information about teacher licensure. To find Wisconsin’s
requirements visit the state Department
of Public Instruction’s Web site.
Do I need a license to teach?
Some states initially grant provisional certification and expect candidates to undertake a paid internship, working with a master teacher in a school for at least a year. Most states require teacher candidates to pass competency examinations.
Teachers in Wisconsin’s public schools must be licensed by the State of Wisconsin. Should you decide to become a teacher, you will have to meet the requirements of Wisconsin’s new teacher licensure law that goes into effect in 2004.
This law creates three levels of licensure: Initial, Professional and Master. When you first teach, you will be licensed as an Initial Educator. Within five years, you will move to the Professional License. The Professional License must be renewed every five years.
The new system of licensing teachers will be based on 10 standards that define what good teachers know and should be able to do. Wisconsin colleges and universities are required to base their teacher preparation programs on these standards. These standards will be used to grant teachers their licenses.
For more information about Wisconsin’s new system of teacher licensure, go to:
What organization can I join in college that
will help me as I prepare to become a teacher?
One organization, the Student Wisconsin Education Association (Student
WEA), is a statewide, national award-winning, pre-professional organization
affiliated with WEAC. The Student WEA is a governance organization that
elects leaders at both the state and local levels. Wisconsin colleges
and universities host active chapters of Student WEA.
Student WEA focuses on quality public education in these areas: professional
development, networking, community outreach, and citizen action. At the
heart of these four areas is the issue of quality public education.
In addition to the various conferences and community outreach opportunities, there are numerous benefits that members can receive—from publications to credit cards. In fact, the organization has received numerous awards from the National Education Association. There are other organizations at various universities and campuses that can help prepare you for teaching. These include student groups for specific majors.
For more information, go to the Student WEA web site at www.student-wea.org
Where can I obtain financial aid information?
Contact the financial aid office at any college or university.
For more information about financial aid, go to:
What opportunities do I have for professional
growth and/or advancement?
Professional growth and licensure go hand in hand. As a teacher in Wisconsin (and most other states as well), you will be required throughout your career to maintain or acquire new knowledge and skills. In education, as in all other career areas, professionals must continually learn the latest information, technology and ways of doing things. This not only leads to advanced levels of licensure, but also ensures that you will become a better teacher.
You will have many opportunities for professional growth. For instance, most districts provide “inservice” or staff development programs, throughout the year. These are usually held at a school within the district, and teachers spend part of the day—or perhaps longer—learning ways to work more effectively with kids.
Other avenues for professional growth include attending workshops outside of school, completing college courses during the school year or summer, or participating in work experiences such as internships in business and industry.
Some professional growth activities are required by the state and will assist teachers in obtaining more advanced levels of licensure. As mentioned in the section, “Do I need a license to teach?” there will be three levels of licensure for Wisconsin teachers starting in 2004 – Initial, Professional and Master Educator. In 2004, all beginning teachers will need to achieve a Professional Educator license within five years of starting their career, and some will seek the Master Educator license as well.
There are two ways to obtain the Master Educator license. One way is to obtain a master’s degree and demonstrate outstanding knowledge and skill in a “professional development plan.” For more information about the Master Educator license, visit WEAC's resource page on teacher licensure.
A second way to reach the Master Educator level is to become certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. For information about about National Board certification, visit the NBPTS Web site.
In addition to advanced levels of teacher licensure, some educators may use professional growth experiences to obtain a license to become a guidance counselor, school principal, district administrator, or other educational specialist.
What is my next step?
If you are interested in teaching, how can you get started? You can join future education clubs, volunteer or work as a camp counselor. Outlined below are steps you can take to gather more information as you prepare for an exciting career working with learners of any age.
Talk with your guidance counselor
Your counselor can assist you in planning a class schedule that will help prepare you for college. In addition, he or she may be able to arrange for practical experiences such as job shadowing or working in part-time jobs.
High school guidance counselors can also help in the selection of classes required for college admission; high school graduates can then either enroll in a four-year college/university or in a two-year junior/community college, followed by a transfer to a four-year institution.
Visit your school or local career center
Your career center will have resources available so you can continue to research the field of teaching. It may also sponsor informational programs such as a panel discussion among educators who teach different subject areas and grade levels.
Talk with teachers
One of the best ways to gather firsthand information about a career in education is to talk with teachers you know and admire. Ask them about their jobs - what they like and dislike about their work , how they became interested in teaching, what activities or experiences they suggest you participate in while a high school student , and where they went to college.
Go to the Web
To research all aspects of a teaching career at a time and location convenient to you, go to the Internet. Start with the Web sites mentioned in this booklet, and discover many others suited to your particular interests and questions . It would be a good idea to take information you find to your parents, guidance counselor, career center specialist and/or teacher so they can continue to work with you.
Posted May 23, 2002