My cooperating teachers gave me poor recommendations and reference-now how do I get a full-time teaching job?!

Question

The letters of recommendation were OK, but not great. I finished student teaching in May and have been looking nation-wide for suitable employment. I got a rejection call yesterday and asked for feedback from my interview-the principal said my rejection was due to communication from my University supervisor and cooperating teacher, who said I needed more experience before I become a classroom teacher. The principal suggests I volunteer or substitute for a while to gain experience and new references. I need to be working full time right away to support my family. My experience with student teaching was not very good-my cooperating teacher was domineering and never let me do my own thing...and then criticized me for not being assertive enough. I had hoped this was behind me, but it looks like she has ruined my career prospects. I have been putting out dozens of non-teaching applications in the hopes of securing any work in the near future. What do you think?

Answer 1

You say nation wide I know Texas has a real shortage of teachers try a school district in Houston.

Answer 2

Sorry to hear that. I still remember the rave reviews my Cooperating and Supervising Teachers gave me. However, this is about you.

Do not give up. Some cooperating teachers don't want to "cooperate." They are so fearful of sitting back and letting someone else take over. They forget that they once had to go through the learning experience. Perhaps, it would be best not to put him/her as a reference. Find a professor or another teacher who can give you a recommendation.

P.S. This obstacle can be overcome. I have friends who are career switchers who haven't student taught or subbed. If they are bold enough to stand in front of a group of students "cold," then it would be a slap in the face if you were not given the same chance after all your years of preparation!

Answer 3

Unfortunately, it isn't simply your cooperating teacher who is not giving positive feedback, but it is also your supervisor.  Therefore, no matter what, you are going to have a difficult time securing a job at any good school.  A school that is desperate to hire teachers will hire you, but I'm sure you wouldn't want that.  

If I were you, I'd call my University supervisor and talk with him/her about the situation. There are reasons why they have both said you need more experience.  If it was just your cooperating teacher, that could be excusable, but you have another person saying the same thing.  Apply for a long-term sub position and go from there if you can't find a job.  

I don't think it was your cooperating teacher who screwed anything up for you.  I have met a lot of people with poor cooperating teachers...and that did not interfere with getting hired.  There must have been something that happened.  I don't know.  Administrators are usually smart enough to look into all areas before hiring.  I can only approach this by thinking of people I already know.  I don't know you or the school, so I can't say anything for sure.  I do know one girl who I work with who claimed that her cooperating teacher was overbearing.  She said that her cooperating teacher wouldn't let her apply her lessons, but would also criticize her for not doing enough on her own.  I don't know.  I don't know what happened in your situation or hers, but I know that this girl has not been a strong teacher at our school.  I have also found that she is afraid of criticism and takes it as if she is being told she's a failure.  The problem is that she isn't willing to accept that she is just starting out and it will take time for her to become good at what she does.

Answer 4

PrincessPurple's suggestion is very good:  "If I were you, I'd call my University supervisor and talk with him/her about the situation. There are reasons why they have both said you need more experience."

An obvious question for the university is why you were graduated from the program if this is how the supervisor felt.  While relationships with coop teachers can be contentious, the supervisor usually has final say in whether you pass or not.  Surely he/she knows a negative reference from the university is the kiss of death.

Another suggestion:  did you become close or familiar with another teacher at your student teaching location who can write you a good reference?

One final suggestion:  consider the possibility that you *do* need more experience.  Teaching's tough and school really doesn't prepare you fully.  I understand you need to work, but unfortunately having a need doesn't make the problem go away.  If there is some truth to what they said, find a way to get more experience (teaching assistant? tutoring?  go to Craigslist).  Good luck.

Answer 5

I am sorry that you had negative feed back from your teaching experience.  I am a Cooperative teacher and supportive of the colleges who send their student teachers to our school.  I believe that while a teacher should be honest in her reporting, she should also be encouraging.  Perhaps you might need more supervision or experience. There is nothing wrong with that.  Substituting can give you a wide range of experience with different classes while you mature and become more assertive in your classroom management and teaching style.  Additionally, as a sub, you do get paid and subs in our city are paid well.  There is a shortage of subs everywhere and you should not have difficulty finding a position.  I encourage you not to give up hope, but to look at every situation as a positive opportunity to become a better teacher.  There are places that some subs will not go - you go there and make the best of every situation.  As you teach, evaluate yourself in your progress.  Allow the principal or other teachers to observe and write their remarks. Keep these with you to add to your resume'.  If you are serious about relocating - think of Nashville Public Schools.  We could use good, strong, positive teachers.

Answer 6

dont gv up! as long as u still have the passion of teaching n the hope of supporting ur family, u will find 1! hau bout u find a private teaching centre n work as a tutor to gain more experience then maybe sooner or later u will find the job in university or sumwhr! juz dont gv up easilly! im oso a teacher but juz a daycare teacher in a private educare centre!( children of age 5-13)!

Answer 7

I suggest being a subsitute for a year then teaching, that is if you are a good subsitute. you could also try online teaching, they have a full time job... I think it is online tutoring here is a nice link for you to go to.

or call 1-888-educate-now and ask them for a job.

ask for a  store nearest to you, or look it up o n that website, then go to that store for more info, and ask the people working there, I looked for a site map and they had one but there was no job offers link on there, so call that number and go to the store and ask, make sure you are dressed nicely, smell nicely, and are polite so you dont get another rejection.

Answer 8

Try substitute teaching. If you are really good, then you can get a long term substitute position. If you are certified and really really good, then you can receive a contract to teach. You should have been assertive during student teaching. If you are not assertive in your own classroom, the students will take over. And you will be fired on the spot. Then you will definitely receive poor recommendations when you apply to teach somewhere else.