Getting ready to move "somewhere"

Date: August 7, 2010

Hello world! I am finishing my Master's of Music this year in Choral Conducting and am starting to think about job possibilities for the 2011-2012 school year and beyond.

I taught for two years in Phoenix, AZ before packing everything and moving to Omaha, NE. I love the midwest and would not mind staying somewhere nearby, but also realize that the economy as it is may not allow me to stay in Nebraska and teach secondary choral music (very few jobs were available this year).

I'd like to cast a wider "net" in hopes of finding a choral job in secondary ed, but the more states I look in the more I have to deal with different teaching certification requirements. My Arizona license expired this year as I was not in Arizona to take the necessary sheltered english immersion courses, but some states will accept an expired license if the holder taught during the valid issue period. Arizona also has its own teacher evaluations , so I have not taken Praxis at this point.

I'd like to have as much out of the way as possible so that when I start interviewing in the spring potential employers don't shy away because of potential certification issues.

Those of you who have ventured to other places to teach, or have advised people seeking work in other states, what should I do to make being certified in other states a smoother process? Especially when I don't know exactly where I am going?

Thank you,

Jason St. Claire

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Aubrey Connelly on August 8, 2010 5:44am

Jason,

Don't forget about private schools. For the most part, you do NOT have to have a current teaching certificate to start at a private school. Your master's will get you in the door and then they will provide time (and sometimes money) for you to become certified by the state. Private schools may not pay as much but you are rewarded in other ways including a large budget for you program, limited to NO fundraising, exceptional students, complete freedom to run your program and a small and supportive administration. Right now, international boarding schools are doing better than other public and private schools. Although America's economy has tanked, China's economy is booming.

Good Luck!

Aubrey

Jason St Claire on August 8, 2010 10:09pm

Thanks for the advice Aubrey! I will keep that in mind when searching.

Cheers,

Jason

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