Woo hoo! PAID INTERNSHIP!

[hindypo]

I have been subbing a lot for one science teacher at my local high school, as she has been on a HUGE jury trial... I am there a lot and when she has a day off court, the other science teachers have been asking for me. It's truly been fun! Well, MOSTLY..

I have been thinking lately, I BLEW IT BY NOT BECOMING A REGULAR TEACHER. But I have mortgage, a daughter, and I can't even make ends meet, let alone taking a year off to get my credential.

Well lo and behold, another science teacher I sub for occasionally stopped me in the hall today and said they had a position next year and they'd like me to apply through the local university internship program, which means I'd get my credential in two years while being PAID (and not all that badly either!).

OK, if it works, it's going to mean a big time and energy commitment for the next two years, but I AM SO EXCITED! Just to be asked is an honor.

I will keep you all posted on how it goes, but tonight I am walking on AIR!

 

[SubforNow]

Congratulations!

Congratulations on your huge accomplishment! I am so happy for you!!!

 

[SubTeacherMan]

Congrats

It's good to hear that all of your hard work while substitute teaching has paid off. If you like the school, than definitely take the chance!

 

[DANNYCA]

Congratulations

Hard work pays

 

[Tounces]

intern

I was just wondering if there is a teacher shortage where you got your internship. I don't mean to put a damper on your good news. I have been burned by this type of program in the past so I am biased-I know. What happens in some places is these internships take jobs from already licensed teachers because the school can pay them less money. I was at a school where they reduced the number of teachers because of declining enrollment. The local college has an internship program. So a teacher working part time without the required license enrolled into the program. She was hired over me the next year through the arrangement with the school and college (internship). There was a teacher surplus in that whole state. There was no need for this intern program. I don't know how things are in your area so I'm not saying this is going on where you live. I just know they can come back to get you sometimes. I was working for 9 years when this happened. The next year I had to take two part time jobs to make ends meet.
In the intern's situation she only had 1 year interning-paid. Then the next year SHE was out of work. Another intern replaced her the next year.
I'm happy you got a job. I really am. I'm just ticked about the internship programs. I think they are a way to pay beginning teachers even less and they put other teachers out of work. The ones I know about don't guarantee a contract after all your hard work either.

 

[mme NPB]

way to go Hindypo!

Hindypo I am really happy for you, even taking into account Tounces posting. You do seem to have a special talent for teaching and perhaps this is your calling. I think if it all pans out you should go for it.

 

[twin2]

I can't tell you if this is going to make everything alright, but it certainly seems like an excellent opportunity. Personally, I would go for it. If you're talking about earning the credentials vs. not earning the credentials, what do you have to lose? Certainly, if it is a scam, at least you will have the credentials to move on elsewhere, right?

 

[hindypo]

Thanks all!

Thanks everyone, for the kind wishes! I was SO jazzed yesterday, and one of the first things I wanted to do was to let you guys know! And I have no idea who you ARE!!! ! What a great thing the internet can be.

Tounces, I very much appreciate what you wrote and it sounds TERRIBLE, what happened to you. I am very sorry.

But since you asked, in my case, I work in a quality district that teachers compete to get in to. There is no shortage of teachers and the district is fairly solvent. They tend to get the best and the brightest.

At this stage in the game, it's the HS Biology Department that wants me. They could easily fill the job with a fully credentialed person no problem, but they want to explore this option with me. Truly, there is no savings to them. Amazingly, I checked the salary structure - I would get $39K a year to start, and a fully credentialled teacher would get $42K. I would be glad to get that, but I was rather (pleasingly!) surprised to find such a small differentiation in pay.

They really like what I do, but the teacher clearly stated that they would "interview me." So the job is not mine for sure. It is simply an opportunity. However, I am completely pleased to even be considered!

Now, what stopped me in my tracks today was that checking in with my local state university and my alma mater, they said I should attend info sessions so that I could enroll in summer 2007. Urggh! I am going to try to pull some strings in that direction (I have a few) and if that doesn't work, I will explore some local independent colleges that offer the same thing. It may be the colleges, and not the district, that dampen this dream.

I have a college degree and a fair amount of getting the darn thing was the paperwork and bureaucracy, as I remember. Here we go again!