S/O Teacher Requirement Question

Drea926 · December 2013

Hi ladies,

The FFFC thread got me curious about something - in your state, is it required for teachers to have a master's degree? I know where I live you have to obtain one within five years of your career. We also have to update our license through college credits or professional development points every five years.

And in regards to pay, although I've complained before, it's decent. I work in a "lower-paying district" but even at that I make 56K at my 6th year in. (It's public record so I don't mind stating my salary.) I'd say overall I get fairly compensated for my work. The only time that wasn't true was my first year. You get the absolute lowest pay and I was putting in like 65-70 hours a week! :P

Just curious!

(As an aside, I feel like going to work today, pulling my colleagues aside and say, you think we got it bad? :P)

TarheelMama202 · December 2013

No we don't have to have master's degrees. In fact, the NC General Assembly just put in place this year that those with Master's degrees do not earn higher salaries. That used to be an incentive we had in place for teachers to further their education.

In my sixth year teaching, I earn about 32k. (My coaching role is at the same level of pay as a teacher). Our pay scale has been frozen since I started teaching-- so not a single pay raise since I started working. My pay hasn't even been adjusted for inflation.

This all goes to my point that my state isn't recruiting or maintaining the best and brightest in classrooms. I do it because I'm passionate about education from a social justice standpoint. However, I'm considering going back to school to earn my master's in school administration in hopes of becoming an AP. Hopefully then it will be easier to make ends meet.

Drea926 · December 2013

TarheelMama202 said:

No we don't have to have master's degrees. In fact, the NC General Assembly just put in place this year that those with Master's degrees do not earn higher salaries. That used to be an incentive we had in place for teachers to further their education. In my sixth year teaching, I earn about 32k. (My coaching role is at the same level of pay as a teacher). Our pay scale has been frozen since I started teaching-- so not a single pay raise since I started working. My pay hasn't even been adjusted for inflation. This all goes to my point that my state isn't recruiting or maintaining the best and brightest in classrooms. I do it because I'm passionate about education from a social justice standpoint. However, I'm considering going back to school to earn my master's in school administration in hopes of becoming an AP. Hopefully then it will be easier to make ends meet.

That's awful!

I'd bet you'd be an awesome AP though! Go for it, girl!

CamMyMan · December 2013

TarheelMama202 said:

No we don't have to have master's degrees. In fact, the NC General Assembly just put in place this year that those with Master's degrees do not earn higher salaries. That used to be an incentive we had in place for teachers to further their education. In my sixth year teaching, I earn about 32k. (My coaching role is at the same level of pay as a teacher). Our pay scale has been frozen since I started teaching-- so not a single pay raise since I started working. My pay hasn't even been adjusted for inflation. This all goes to my point that my state isn't recruiting or maintaining the best and brightest in classrooms. I do it because I'm passionate about education from a social justice standpoint. However, I'm considering going back to school to earn my master's in school administration in hopes of becoming an AP. Hopefully then it will be easier to make ends meet.

No support for pursuing higher education? Wow, that is seriously awful.

I have a Master's of Ed in School Counseling but have yet to find a job in my field. So I have *some* experience in the school setting (practicum and internship) but no "real" working experience. Sometimes I'm glad I haven't found a job in the school. The education system in Ohio seems seriously flawed. That being said, my step-daughter just started Kindergarten this year and so far, we are very happy with the education she is receiving. We also open-enrolled to a more highly rated school district that the ones that we currently live in. I'm happy for that option!

nlp1990 · December 2013

In ME you do not need a masters though you do need to do recertification college or workshop credits like OP said. When I was thinking of getting my masters I asked at the school district where I live their thoughts and they said that it would probably hurt rather than help me because they would have to pay me more and they didnt have that kind o money in the budget. I have a BS in ECE and have yet to find a job, which is totally ok with me. I would rather work/run a private preschool than the public schools around here.

Puck1182 · December 2013

I live in NJ. I'm not a teacher but have a lot of teachers in my family and hold a certificate of eligibility to be a school librarian (I'd need to complete 9 education credits to be fully certified, but no sense in that right now since I don't actually know if I will actually go that route, but maybe when DD is in school). Anyway, a Masters is not required for teachers, but school librarians (or educational media specialist if you want to get technical) do need to have a masters degree in library science. The pay here is pretty good, I think most school districts will start you around a least 45k, more like 50k+ with an advanced degree. But it's NJ, so the cost of living is also pretty high, so teachers here don't exactly live a life of luxury. But if you reach the top of the pay scales you can hit around 70-80k, so it's certainly a comfortable living at that point even if no one is getting wealthy doing it. And overall our state has a very good education system. There are obviously individual district that have issues, but our test scores are among the top in the nation and we have high HS graduation rates and a comparatively large percentage of our population holds college degrees and beyond. Not sure how much of that is a function of teachers' pay versus other factors, but I'm sure the decent pay doesn't hurt when it comes to recruiting

Drea926 · December 2013

@ByeByeBooze I'm in Massachusetts

TarheelMama202 · December 2013

Drea926 said:

Hi ladies,

The FFFC thread got me curious about something - in your state, is it required for teachers to have a master's degree? I know where I live you have to obtain one within five years of your career. We also have to update our license through college credits or professional development points every five years.

And in regards to pay, although I've complained before, it's decent. I work in a "lower-paying district" but even at that I make 56K at my 6th year in. (It's public record so I don't mind stating my salary.) I'd say overall I get fairly compensated for my work. The only time that wasn't true was my first year. You get the absolute lowest pay and I was putting in like 65-70 hours a week! :P

Just curious!

(As an aside, I feel like going to work today, pulling my colleagues aside and say, you think we got it bad? :P)

@Drea926 That is a competitive wage! If I were to put myself in the shoes of a college student, I would be able to look at that salary and think-- "I could absolutely work for that amount of money and live a comfortable life." I think that with that pay scale, you guys would definitely attract some incredibly bright young people to the teaching profession. I'm sure that you and your colleagues are very talented, excellent educators. Plus, you have the incentive of climbing the pay scale in addition to doing what you love!

In NC, we do attract young people to the profession, but they often leave after a few years because they realize that there is very little opportunity for advancement in their career. NC is also a right-to-work state, so we do not have teacher's unions.

a13049 · December 2013

In MO your aren't requires to have a masters degree, however your salary is frozen at step 5,if you don't have a masters and you are required to complete a certain amount of extra professional development each year. A lot of districts, including my own, won't renew your contract if you haven't completed your masters degree by the end of yor fifth year. This is also the year you earn tenure. In districts that still have career ladder, such as mine, you can not earn career ladder either.

I'm in my 6th year and have a asters and Ed.S I am making 48,000 a year. DH is in his 6th year with a masters and makes 44,000. We aren't rich but it is a comfortable salary in an area with a fairly low cost of living in this area

MalRiggs · December 2013

TarheelMama202 said:

No we don't have to have master's degrees. In fact, the NC General Assembly just put in place this year that those with Master's degrees do not earn higher salaries. That used to be an incentive we had in place for teachers to further their education. In my sixth year teaching, I earn about 32k. (My coaching role is at the same level of pay as a teacher). Our pay scale has been frozen since I started teaching-- so not a single pay raise since I started working. My pay hasn't even been adjusted for inflation. This all goes to my point that my state isn't recruiting or maintaining the best and brightest in classrooms. I do it because I'm passionate about education from a social justice standpoint. However, I'm considering going back to school to earn my master's in school administration in hopes of becoming an AP. Hopefully then it will be easier to make ends meet.

THIS!!

I also teach in NC. And I'm there because I care for my students and I want my children to have a teacher like me, someone who generally cares about them. I have no intentions of leaving but its becoming a consistent battle with my DH, and sadly with all the changes in NC I'm running out of comebacks. It also doesn't help that we keep running into people we knew from high school who didn't go to college (or in some cases didn't finish High school) who make more than me and work less hours. The whole situation makes me sad and furious at the same time

~X(

Drea926 · December 2013

Aw man! @TarheelMama202 and @MalRiggs - I can't believe things are so crappy for you. Big kudos to you both for staying in. That must be incredibly frustrating, but I'm sure you're impacting so many kids in such a positive way. @NickysNutmeg - I hope you don't get cut!

DublinMama · December 2013

It's not required in NH, but you have to be considered what's called "Highly Qualified." To get that status, you have to have a Master's or a certain number of years teaching, which I forget the exact number. I was considered Highly Qualified my first year because I had the M.S. But it's a silly concept because it days on our DOE website that superintendents can waive that requirement at their discretion. I have 8 years experience and make 42K, which is obscenely ridiculous. It's just my district, though, because teachers in neighboring towns with the same creds make around 55-60K. Needless to say, the resumes will be hot of the press in the spring!

Drea926 · December 2013

DublinMama said:

It's not required in NH, but you have to be considered what's called "Highly Qualified." To get that status, you have to have a Master's or a certain number of years teaching, which I forget the exact number. I was considered Highly Qualified my first year because I had the M.S. But it's a silly concept because it days on our DOE website that superintendents can waive that requirement at their discretion. I have 8 years experience and make 42K, which is obscenely ridiculous. It's just my district, though, because teachers in neighboring towns with the same creds make around 55-60K. Needless to say, the resumes will be hot of the press in the spring!

Good for you...UPGRADE!!!

ericalee27 · December 2013

Not a teacher, but an NC resident.....the changes in the past ~year have been awful here for the public education system. To our Feb NC teachers, know that I appreciate you!

MalRiggs · December 2013

ericalee27 said:

Not a teacher, but an NC resident.....the changes in the past ~year have been awful here for the public education system. To our Feb NC teachers, know that I appreciate you!

Thank you. Its so nice to hear. Lately all I been hearing is the negative

musicalmama5 · December 2013

I taught for two years in a public school here in Louisiana a few years ago. I made about 36K. No Master's requirements. Our public schools are pretty atrocious here though. And the two years I spent there was enough to make me GTFO and start my own (education-based) business. I just couldn't get behind the standardized test BS. I mean, I was the friggin band/choir teacher and I was supposed to have the kids do writing portfolio work once a week. Wait, what? Gah. Don't even get me started. I might never stop.

Want a personalized experience?

S/O Teacher Requirement Question

Re: S/O Teacher Requirement Question

Choose Another Board

Search Boards