Teaching Assistant Job....

Question

I graduated recently from college with a BA in elementary education and a license to teach elementary school. However, I am having the most difficult time trying to find a teaching job. I am starting to think that maybe it just won't happen this year.

That being said, I am going to go in for a second interview for a teaching assistant position at a pretty affluent private school in my community. If I was to get this job, do you think there would be any negative repercussions to being a teaching assistant for a year (or more, depending on when I can get a teaching job)? Do you think schools I apply to in the future will look down on the fact that I could not find a job right away? Or do you think they will be happy that I have a year experience under my belt, even if it is only as an assistant? Help me! I want to make the right decision!

Answer 1

you should apply to some of the rural school districts in Alaska. We are in need of teachers all the time. You may be 500 miles from a decent sized town but many jobs start out at over 42000 dollars.

Answer 2

Definitely your second option - they will be very glad to see that you didn´t lose motivation and really wanted to teach. They´ll be glad to see that you´re honestly interested in teaching and went for assistant instead of full-time teacher. It is quite common to not find a job instantly after graduating, especially if you studied a subject that is not one in which schools lack teachers at the moment. By working as an assistant, you gain experience, you show dedication and motivation - and what better basis to start off from as a teacher?

Good luck!  

Answer 3

I can't speak for principals, but as a teacher, I'd honestly just think you did what you had to to get your foot in the door- no more, no less.  There are some school years where it's difficult to get a job in a specific area, especially if you missed out on any job fairs that may have happened in the spring.  If you decide to take the position, you can always use it to your advantage in future interviews.  By working in a private school, you'll be able to gain a different perspective on education.  People choose private schools over public ones for a reason, and by being in there, you'll be able to see what parents want for their children that they think public schools can't provide...and you can help change that in public ones when you get the job.

Best wishes with whatever you decide to do.  I DO know that even when school systems tell you not to contact individual principals and just to apply at the central office, that they don't actually mean it.  You can't get noticed and stand out if you can't talk to the principal.

Answer 4

I think being an assistant would be an excellent way to stay connected to the district in which you eventually want to teach in. I know many TA's that do the same thing, our Human Resources department is aware of them and they are given top priority when teaching jobs open up. One of our TA's just this year had been an assistant for several years while waiting for an art teacher position to open up and it happened for her for this coming year. We are all sad to see her go, but we all knew it would happen sometime, she just hung in there and got the job.

Good luck!

Answer 5

You should definitely take the position.  I had to sub for a year before finding a full-time classroom teaching position of my own.  That experience will only help you in interviews, with experience, and when you have a classroom of your own!  Get your foot in the door and get that experience.  It'll be great for you.  

Experience is experience.  Subbing, assisting, whatever... it's all good.  

Best of luck!