Levels of Teaching
Preschool Teachers/Child Care Workers
Elementary School Teachers (K-6)
Secondary School Teachers (Middle School/Jr. High School/High School)
College/University Faculty (Post-Secondary Education)
Counselors (School Counseling / College Counseling)
Adult Education
Preschool Teachers/
Child-Care Workers
Duties:
Preschool teachers and child-care workers nurture and teach preschool
children-age 5 or younger-in child care centers, nursery schools,
preschools, public schools, and family child care homes. These workers play
an important role in a child's development by caring for the child when the
parents are at work or away for other reasons. Some parents enroll their
children in nursery schools or child-care centers primarily to provide them
with the opportunity to interact with other children. In addition to
attending to children's basic needs, these workers organize activities that
stimulate the children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social
growth. They help children explore their interests, develop their talents
and independence, build self-esteem, and learn how to behave with others.
Education required:
Each State has its own licensing requirements that regulate caregiver
training, ranging from a high school diploma, to community college courses,
to a college degree in child development or early childhood education. Some
States require continuing education for workers in this field. However, most
State requirements are minimal. Formal education requirements in some
private preschools and child care centers are often lower than in public
programs since they are not bound by State requirements. Often, child-care
workers can obtain employment with a high school diploma and little or no
experience.
Salary:
In 1996, median weekly earnings of full-time, salaried child-care workers
were $250. The middle 50 percent of child-care workers earned between $190
and $310. The top 10 percent earned at least $390; the bottom 10 percent
earned less than $140. ($20,280 - $7,280 a year)
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Description:
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers play a vital role in the
development of children. What children learn and experience during their
early years can shape their views of themselves and the world, and affect
later success or failure in school, work, and their personal lives.
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers introduce children to numbers,
language, science, and social studies. They use games, music, artwork,
films, slides, computers, and other tools to teach basic skills.
Most elementary school
teachers instruct one class of children in several subjects. In some
schools, two or more teachers work as a team and are jointly responsible for
a group of students in at least one subject. In other schools, a teacher may
teach one special subject-usually music, art, reading, science, arithmetic,
or physical education-to a number of classes. A small but growing number of
teachers instruct multilevel classrooms, with students at several different
learning levels.
Education required:
Public school teachers must have a bachelor's degree, complete an approved
teacher education program, and be licensed; some States require a master's
degree.
Salary:
According to the NEA, the estimated average salary of all public elementary
and secondary school teachers in the 1995-96 school year was $37,900. Public
secondary school teachers averaged about $38,600 a year, while public
elementary school teachers averaged $37,300. Private school teachers
generally earn less than public school teachers.
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Secondary School Teachers:
Middle School / Jr. High and High School
Description:
Secondary school teachers help students delve more deeply into subjects
introduced in elementary school and expose them to more information about
the world and themselves. Secondary school teachers specialize in a specific
subject, such as English, Spanish, mathematics, history, or biology. They
teach a variety of related courses-for example, American history,
contemporary American problems, and world geography.
Education Required:
Public school teachers must have a bachelor's degree, complete an approved
teacher education program, and be licensed; some States require a master's
degree.
Salary:
According to the National Education Association, the estimated average
salary of all public elementary and secondary school teachers in the 1995-96
school year was $37,900. Public secondary school teachers averaged about
$38,600 a year, while public elementary school teachers averaged $37,300.
Private school teachers generally earn less than public school teachers.
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Description:
Faculty usually are organized into departments or divisions, based on
subject or field. They usually teach several different courses—algebra,
calculus, and statistics, for example. They may instruct undergraduate or
graduate students, or both. College and university faculty may give lectures
to several hundred students in large halls, lead small seminars, or
supervise students in laboratories. They prepare lectures, exercises, and
laboratory experiments; grade exams and papers; and advise and work with
students individually. In universities, they also supervise graduate
students’ teaching and research. College faculty work with an increasingly
varied student population made up of growing shares of part-time, older, and
culturally and racially diverse students.
College faculty usually
have flexible schedules. They must be present for classes, usually 12 to 16
hours per week, and for faculty and committee meetings. Most establish
regular office hours for student consultations, usually 3 to 6 hours per
week. Otherwise, faculty are free to decide when and where they will work,
and how much time to devote to course preparation, grading, study, research,
graduate student supervision, and other activities.
Education required:
Most faculty members are hired as instructors or assistant professors.
Four-year colleges and universities usually consider doctoral degree holders
for full-time, tenure-track positions, but may hire master’s degree holders
or doctoral candidates for certain disciplines, such as the arts, or for
part-time and temporary jobs. In 2-year colleges, master’s degree holders
fill most full-time positions. However, with increasing competition for
available jobs, institutions can be more selective in their hiring
practices. Master’s degree holders may find it increasingly difficult to
obtain employment as they are passed over in favor of candidates holding a
Ph.D.
Salary:
Median annual earnings of college and university faculty in 1998 were
$46,630. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,390 and $71,360. The
lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,100; the highest 10 percent, more
than $90,360.
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Description:
School
and college counselors - who
work at the elementary, middle, secondary, and postsecondary school
levels-help students evaluate their abilities, interests, talents, and
personality characteristics so that students can develop realistic academic
and career goals. Counselors use interviews, counseling sessions, tests, or
other methods when evaluating and advising students. They may operate career
information centers and career education programs. High school counselors
advise on college majors, admission requirements, entrance exams, and
financial aid, and on trade, technical school, and apprenticeship programs.
They help students develop job finding skills such as resume writing and
interviewing techniques. College career planning and placement counselors
assist alumni or students with career development and job hunting
techniques.
Elementary school
counselors observe younger children during classroom and play activities and
confer with their teachers and parents to evaluate their strengths,
problems, or special needs. They also help students develop good study
habits. They do less vocational and academic counseling than secondary
school counselors.
Education Required:
Recent data indicate that 6 out of 10 counselors have a master's degree;
fields of study include college student affairs, elementary or secondary
school counseling, education, gerontological counseling, marriage and family
counseling, substance abuse counseling, rehabilitation counseling, agency or
community counseling, clinical mental health counseling, counseling
psychology, career counseling, or a related field.
Salary:
According to the Educational Research Service, the average salary of public
school counselors in the 1995-96 academic year was about $44,100. Many
school counselors are compensated on the same pay scale as teachers. School
counselors can earn additional income working summers in the school system
or in other jobs.
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Description:
Adult education teachers work in four main areas-adult vocational-technical
education, adult remedial education, adult continuing education, and
pre-baccalaureate training. Adult vocational-technical education teachers
provide instruction for occupations that do not require a college degree,
such as welder, dental hygienist, automated systems manager, x-ray
technician, auto mechanic, and cosmetologist. Other instructors help people
update their job skills or adapt to technological advances. For example, an
adult education teacher may train students how to use new computer software
programs. Adult remedial education teachers provide instruction in basic
education courses for school dropouts or others who need to upgrade their
skills to find a job. Adult continuing education teachers teach courses
which students take for personal enrichment, such as cooking, dancing,
writing, exercise and physical fitness, photography, and finance. Some adult
education teachers in junior or community colleges prepare students for a
4-year degree program, teaching classes for credit that can be applied
towards that degree.
Adult
education teachers who instruct in adult basic education programs may work
with students who do not speak English; teach adults reading, writing, and
mathematics up to the 8th-grade level; or teach adults through the
12th-grade level in preparation for the General Educational Development
tests (GED). The GED offers the equivalent of a high school diploma. These
teachers may refer students for counseling or job placement. Because many
people who need adult basic education are reluctant to seek it, teachers
also may recruit participants.
Education Required:
Training requirements vary by State and by subject. In general, teachers
need work or other experience in their field, and a license or certificate
in fields where these usually are required for full professional status. In
some cases, particularly at educational institutions, a master's or doctoral
degree is required to teach non-vocational courses which can be applied
towards a 4-year degree program. Many vocational teachers in junior or
community colleges do not have a master's or doctoral degree but draw on
their work experience and knowledge, bringing practical experience to the
classroom. For general adult education classes that are taken for interest
or enjoyment, an acceptable portfolio of work is required. For example, to
secure a job teaching a photography course, an applicant would need to show
examples of previous work.
Salary:
In 1996, salaried adult education teachers who usually worked full time had
median earnings around $31,300 a year. The middle 50 percent earned between
$19,200 and $44,800. The lowest 10 percent earned about $13,100, while the
top 10 percent earned more than $56,600. Earnings varied widely by subject,
academic credentials, experience, and region of the country. Part-time
instructors generally are paid hourly wages and do not receive benefits or
pay for preparation time outside of class.
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2000-2001
Prepared by: S. Bautista, 9/01
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