How do teachers feel about going for their Masters??

Question

I graduated college w/ a degree in PK-12 Visual Arts. I do not have a teaching job yet (I live in Ohio!). Some teachers have told me to wait to get my Masters b/c schools won't want to hire me & pay me more right off the bat than those teachers w/ just a BA. And other teachers have told me to start now & get it over with. So what have you done? Do you think that it makes a difference?

Answer 1

Wow, you have received a lot of conflicting answers.  I can only tell you about my situation.  In Minnesota all teachers need to have a degree in education and be licensed in the state.  A first year teacher gets minimum pay (established by individual school districts).  Every year the teacher teaches in that district, they go up a step and get paid a little more.  After about 10 years, the teacher will run out of steps and will level out at that pay rate.  Now, if that same teacher starts to attend school for the Master's, they will slide across the payscale.  Teachers can do both; thus, the salary goes up.  Eventually, there is a cap to pay.  

Here is the trick, your school has to budget for teacher salaries.  As a new teacher at the lowest payscale, you are appealing to the business office.  A 20 year veteran with a Ph.D, can offer great experience and talents, but that person may be out of the price range the district can afford.  After all, it is a money game.  

I would try very hard to get a job before starting the Master's program.   Some school districts will not pay for extra education if they did not approved it ahead of time.  Your first year is going to be difficult enough; you don't want to do the Master's at that point.  However, if you can't find a job, then be a substitute teacher and offer your services to specific teachers.  Make yourself indispensable and you will make an impression.

Answer 2

If it is not required in your state or desired state to teach, I would wait. I got mine in DC bc it was required for my desired state. but now that I live in Fla, they dont want to pay me what I think I deserve. Teach with your bachelors for a few years, earn their trust/respect, then let your principal know you will earning it and will expect a raise!

Answer 3

Many school districts either want you to have a Masters degree or to finish one, if a district hires you, within a certain amount of time.

Answer 4

Yes, it matters how much they have to pay you when they hire. I would be really quiet about your future plans. Just try to get hired. Don't get your master's too soon. There is a lot of budget cuts and tight money right now. I started mine as soon as I got a permanent position. It has taken 10 years to move through all the lane changes, but I finally made it. It won't take that long, be patient! Good luck!

Answer 5

It doesn't much matter to school districts because they need teachers!  I took a break after completing my BS from school and began teaching.  I started my Masters during the summer after my first year of teaching ended.  It was a nice break and also I didn't have to deal with the stress of being a student when I was learning to be a teacher!  But you most certainly should get it; the pay increase is nice.

Answer 6

I would say go for it now - do a 12 month MAT programme where not only will you finish with your Master's but you will also gain valuable classroom experience in a guided setting as you are required to do a certain amount of student teaching.

Yes, with a Master's degree you are guaranteed to be paid more. In some school districts, this might mean a thousand or two more and in some the difference can be well over 6,000$. So, to me, it is well worth the one extra year of schooling. Furthermore, schools who are truly looking for the best teacher for their students will look at someone who's completed a teacher training programme and be more willing to give an interview than someone who has only gone through their four years of university. Finally, your graduate programme also serves for a placement programme. They will do all they can to help you find a job (it looks great to have a successful employment rate!) upon completion.

The only reason that I would think to hold you off is if a school district said that they would pay for your Master's programme. That said, such an opportunity is pretty rare but they do exist.

I am more than happy I stuck out university one more year - I gained a vast amount of knowledge of teaching (wonderful professional development) and entered into education with a solid paying position that was offered because I had connections through my graduate school. I made a lot of great teacher friends and we all look out for each other. One of my closest friends is a social studies teacher who faces 600 applicants when applying for a single position. All of us at schools rallied behind her (we've seen her teach and heard her philosophies and know she's awesome) and she'll be starting full time this fall.

My vote: get your MAT now.

Answer 7

I've heard the same thing about waiting to get your masters because a school is most likely to hire you with just a BA. I would apply tfor teaching positions, and if it seems they are looking for higher qualified teachers, then go for your MA

Answer 8

go to nbpts.org and sign up to get your national certification - it's more prestige and it pays more; then later get your masters if it will give you another pay raise

Answer 9

I taught for 2 years before I began my Masters.  The program I am in (an most I looked at) required 2-3 years teaching experience before you could be accepted.  I say do it as soon as you can.  If you can go straight through then go for it!  I had to wait, but I still wanted to do it before my husband and I had children because I knew I would never go back!

Answer 10

I waited just about a year and a half then I started my masters. I now have an M.Ed. in Reading and am currently working on my doctorate degree. I will be getting a Ph.D. in Literacy (I'm 26 right now so hopefully I will be done by 32). I think it makes all the difference in the world, depending on what you want to do in life. If someone tells you the job is harder to get into because you need your masters, then go get it! You can do it. Don't sell yourself short. Age and experience has nothing to do with it (this is what I was afraid of at first, since I was young and had almost no experience). You will love it and be glad you did it, I promise. Eventually, I would like to teach at the college level, so it works for me to pursue higher degrees. Do it because you want to though, not because others are telling you that you HAVE to. I think you will be just fine! Good luck!

Answer 11

As far as hiring goes, I think the committee can justify either way -  saving money vs. higher certification - depending on who they want to hire.  I would suggest trying to substitute, get some experience, get known and network, and earn a little money.  It is expensive to attend college.  Are you confident  you will be hired as an Art teacher and stay in the profession?