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Quality Teachers Can't Find Jobs
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Madison Paine
Madison Paine has been a classroom teacher for more than a decade. She has had an opportunity to observe schools all over the world including South America and Africa. Recently her passion for teaching has spread into the realm of teacher advocacy. After witnessing a sharp increase in unfair working conditions and declining respect for teachers overall, Madison Paine has decided to devote the remaining years of her career to bringing about positive change in U.S. schools.
Devoted to her family and loyal friends, Madison balances her busy schedule with travel, entertaining her loved ones in her home, and reading unique books that keep her guessing. Her greatest mentors are her parents and she believes her greatest accomplishment has been helping her students exceed even her greatest expectations. Madison Paine chooses to teach while pursuing a writing career.
Madison is the author of The Poisoned Apple
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In all of my years of teaching, I have never seen so many of my colleagues stressed and out of work. It deeply concerns me and it should concern our nation more than it does. More parents and business leaders should be sending letters to our nation’s capitol and marching on state legislatures to protect teacher positions and school programs. This week I received a question from a teacher who should be actively working in someone’s school. She is experienced and has credentials in subject areas desperately needed across the country. Yet she finds herself locked out of a system that is not competing nationally. Wake up America! A teacher with excellent recommendations and that is highly qualified should not be facing unemployment in this nation.
I admire this teacher because she still has the humility to ask how she can get better so she can serve. I hope you as a reader are able to find nuggets of insight from our conversation to help you in your current or future job pursuit.
Dear Madison:
In the past three years I have had two temporary teaching positions and last year I substituted. My AP the year before said I would have no trouble getting a position for the next year. I am certified in Mathematics and Exceptional Student Education. I am a good teacher. I have 14 years of experience. I know this is a bad economy. Any suggestions? I believe I interview well. I have attached two letters of recommendation from principals as an example of my performance and a copy of my resume for you to critique.
Thanks so much for any suggestions.
Marjorie
Dear Marjorie,
I have great news for you! Math and Special Programs are still subject areas that post high job listings within education. Your expertise in Exceptional Student Education further makes you a candidate that is more marketable. You enclosed two excellent letters of recommendation and your resume. Let’s just focus on your resume. I think the key for you as a veteran is your cover letter (which you did not include). Resumes limit painting a picture of who you were as a teacher for 14 years. You can address gaps in full time instruction more eloquently in a cover letter as well as give a quick snapshot of your career highlights.
•I would avoid obvious statements in your resume like “I was able to refer them” or “Character that students can look up to”. All teachers should be able to refer students and have great character. Post bullet points that are catchy and make you stand out in a crowd, but try your best to do it in one sentence or phrase. An example from your own experience would be, “created an innovative chess program for autistic children”. I rephrased what you originally said to make it stand out more. That would be a great conversation piece in an interview and shows your creativity and ability to work with a specialized population.
It could have been formatting issues with the software used to create your resume, but your margins seemed off and your overall layout was very plain. You want your resume to be eye catching, well organized, and clean. There are so many recommendations out there on how to format resumes, it can be really overwhelming. My suggestion is to keep it concise, interesting, and easy to follow. I am sure administrators reading resumes do not want wordy and verbose. Open with your name and contact information, go straight to education and certification, then jump right into your most recent job experience (listing in bullet points job highlights and duties). End your resume with any awards, recognitions, or extra job duties that would make you more marketable.
Sometimes I wonder if more education and experience, in light of recent budget cuts, makes us veterans more vulnerable to layoffs. It would in any other industry, why not education? However, teachers with experience have to continue to wave our banner of experience and remind future employers how it would behoove them to make us a part of their teams.
I wish you and every teacher from the seasoned veteran to the budding instructor great success in our current economy. It is my joy to encourage you.
Madison Paine
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madison_paine
3 months ago
10 comments
I agree elizd. I think it is very interesting that few administrators especially at central adminstrative offices were given an option to reduce pay or have positions elimininated in states experiencing budget shortfalls. Wise corporate giants trim the fat at the top. In education we seem to go digging in the roots. Teachers nourish the tree, therefore it is not wise to uproot us.
elizd
4 months ago
2 comments
i think that school districts should have budgeted money more to keep employees from losing their jobs during this tough economic cirsis we are in at this time. It is about educating the students for the future.
madison_paine
4 months ago
10 comments
Msaquino,
Your experience in China is an amazing plus! While you are waiting for your next teaching assignment, you may want to look into working with students relocating from China. You are probably already be doing this, but maybe you could serve part time as an academic coach, tutor, or private teacher in your subject area. Also home school parents may find your background of particular interest. All I can say that I would want a teacher with your experience instructing me. I wish you the best.
Account Removed
4 months ago
Thank you for your encouragement Madison. I am also an out of work credentialed teacher with a MAED having trouble finding a job in California. Sometimes I feel like we're all fighting over a small piece of the pie that just keeps getting smaller. I went abroad to teach in Shanghai, China for 2 years at an international school hoping that I could leverage my international experience. My job search is in southern CA. Good luck to everyone, keep your head up, and a love for teaching in your heart. I believe this too (bad economy) shall pass..