Prospective teacher in NY

[IcanTeach2]

:confused: Help a prospective teacher in New York get started. I have already earned an Associates degree in Business ('00). But I would like to go back to school to become a teacher. I've been researching the pathways, and it's giving me a headache.

It would help me out, if someone could clarify the process for me.

What courses I need to take, specialty courses to take, certifications I need to get, etc.

FYI: I'm interested in teaching Middle School (7th & 8th) &/or High School (9th-12th).

:)

[Chef Dave]

It would help me out, if someone could clarify the process for me.


The best thing for you to do would be to contact the New York State Department of Education. These are the people who are, among other things, responsible for the certification of teachers in your state.

Here is a link to the state website:
http://www.nysed.gov/

Here is a link to the state website's page on teacher certification:
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/contact.htm

You probably want to look at "Visit becoming certified - what's my next step."

Alternatively - you can simply call the Department of Education:

Contact Information Continued

Office of Teaching Initiatives
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Ave, 5N EB
Albany, New York 12234
Phone: (518) 474-3901

Staff are available to answer questions: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.

Best wishes!

[IcanTeach2]

:( I've been all over the higherED site. That is the cause of my headache. :) So I guess a nicely worded email to the NYSED should help (I hope).

Thx, for the reply. :)

[Oak Tree]

The problem with that is there are a lot of different avenues. I think you should look into what schools have certification programs near you (or wherever you might be willing to move) and then consider your best route taking into account tuition and what the programs have to offer. Your college is going to want you to end up certified and working so once you get into a program you'll have an academic guidance counselor to spell out the steps to you. I think you're putting the cart before the horse at this point because you only have two years of college.

[busbus]

I would suggest that she contact the Human Resources and/or Recruitment offices of the district in which she might want to work. They might be able to put her on track and provide her with available resources such as their programs recruiting new teachers, colleges and universities in partnership with them, reduced tuition possibilities, etc.

[IcanTeach2]

I would suggest that she contact the Human Resources and/or Recruitment offices of the district in which she might want to work. They might be able to put her on track and provide her with available resources such as their programs recruiting new teachers, colleges and universities in partnership with them, reduced tuition possibilities, etc.

:confused: You mean he, right? :rolleyes:

As for the district I might work at, I don't know yet. What I need is the basic guideline of what pathway I should consider taking. I've already contacted NYSED, and I'm waiting for a reply. I will look into the districts I'd consider working at. But
that can change at anytime. There are at least 100+ HR/RO I could contact, but I prefer not to limit myself yet.

I'd like to make sure I got the NYS mandatory certifications /degrees inline first. Then I can get any specialty certifications needed for specific districts. :)

[Chef Dave]

If time permits, why don't you just call the Albany office? It sounds like you have lots of options and it'd probably be a lot easier for someone at the Department of Ed to simply walk you through your options rather than trying to organize all of this information into a letter or e-mail.

Another alternative would be to visit the nearest teachers' college. If you approach the college as a prospective student in need of advice, you can probably schedule an appointment with an academic counselor.