Master's in Elementary Ed, worth it?
- Thread starter weisr2002
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She has to have a degree/certification in education already in order to teach.
The whole "if you have your masters you won't get a job" crap is a myth. The difference in most schools is a few thousands dollars between BA and masters pay.
I still wouldn't get the masters until you have some teaching experience.
The critical piece is your wife is getting a special education endorsement. Critical! She will get a job with that. If she can wait on the masters and get a special ed AND a reading endorsement she will be golden. Then after a few years of teaching, go back and get the masters.
I still wouldn't get the masters until you have some teaching experience.
The critical piece is your wife is getting a special education endorsement. Critical! She will get a job with that. If she can wait on the masters and get a special ed AND a reading endorsement she will be golden. Then after a few years of teaching, go back and get the masters.
I think this still holds true. I am a teacher now and have been for about 7 years. I have not started my Masters until now knowing that I am going to stay at my current location for as long as possible. Many districts in that state of Iowa hire teachers with less experience so it will cost them less in the long run. Good luck to whatever she does.
My 2 cents,
Check out school counseling. An estimated 1200 job openings in the us in the next 2 years. You have to have a masters degree for the job. Starting pay ranging from 40-60(depending on experience).
I am in UNI's program(largely because they have a 90% job placement before internship) and love it. The program is amazing. I think drake may still have a program but am unsure. Classes are at night, and usually 2 nights a week. I have people in my classes commuting from Dubuque, Monticello, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids. I know Ames is a ways to commute. I don't know what her BA is in, but if it is anything in the social sciences I would give it a shot.
It is pretty tough competition to get in, around 150 apps for 24 positions. Either way something else to think about.
Check out school counseling. An estimated 1200 job openings in the us in the next 2 years. You have to have a masters degree for the job. Starting pay ranging from 40-60(depending on experience).
I am in UNI's program(largely because they have a 90% job placement before internship) and love it. The program is amazing. I think drake may still have a program but am unsure. Classes are at night, and usually 2 nights a week. I have people in my classes commuting from Dubuque, Monticello, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids. I know Ames is a ways to commute. I don't know what her BA is in, but if it is anything in the social sciences I would give it a shot.
It is pretty tough competition to get in, around 150 apps for 24 positions. Either way something else to think about.
But just like anything else, it depends on the area. The district where I currently teach has four elementary counselors on a three year grant, and after next year it is questionable if they will keep any, let alone all four. It is true that there are state laws mandating districts have certain positions filled, but there are ways to get around that--for example, one of the high school counselors becomes K-12 counselor, and has to travel within the district, and no one else will be hired.
Special Ed. with a reading endorsement is a great way to go, and personally, I would teach for a few years before getting a master's. Who knows, she may not like teaching and be sad she spent money on a master's degree that she wouldn't be able to use elsewhere.
If you don't mind uprooting, there are plenty of opportunities.
Find School Counselor jobs at SchoolSpring.com!
Absolutely. I work in public education as a school administrator.
Once again, the difference in masters vs. BA pay in education is 2-5,000. There is a lot of truth that schools like to hire rooks right now BUT to not go get your masters because you think you won't get hired somewhere else is ludicrous. The majority of schools are going to hire the best teacher they can find in most cases.
The whole idea that teachers won't go get their masters because they think they will be "stuck" at a school boggles my mind. Those kids are so lucky to have teachers like this.
Absolutely. I work in public education as a school administrator.
Once again, the difference in masters vs. BA pay in education is 2-5,000. There is a lot of truth that schools like to hire rooks right now BUT to not go get your masters because you think you won't get hired somewhere else is ludicrous. The majority of schools are going to hire the best teacher they can find in most cases.
The whole idea that teachers won't go get their masters because they think they will be "stuck" at a school boggles my mind. Those kids are so lucky to have teachers like this.
AC, I agree with "almost" everything you say and said in previous posts. Most desirable endorsements are reading and SPED. Getting a Masters with no experience is robbing the person of some indepth understanding they gain from getting experience first and MS later. Getting a Masters later in a specialty area such as reading or SPED would make this person highly desirable in numerous positions. A Masters in El Ed wouldn't do much for marketability. I still say that the Masters from Drake, if it is an MAT program, may not be recognized by many districts as a Masters.
Right, I just went back to school and got my BA in Elementary Education. But if you already have a college degree you can skip the BA and go directly to the Master's in Education. It takes 1-2 years at ISU. I know 3 or 4 people taking that route right now.
I was on track to continue through my Master's and possibly further but after multiple discussions with principals, superintendents, and professors I decided to get experience before I continue with my education.
Take a look at the post by the person that said they were a professor in Education.
I think this part is the key. Schools are going to be reluctant to hire someone with a masters degree and zero experience. My wife got her BA in Elementary Ed and after her first year of teaching started her masters. She is doing her masters online with Morningside College and it will take her 2 years I think. She is taking 1 class each semester and 3 over the summers, I believe.
Hope that helps
In New York, a master's is required in order to maintain your teacher's license. That being said, if you were in NY she'd probably be working in Fashion...
Yeah, It is the Masters of Teaching that she is considering at Drake.
The extra costs might be offset a little by commuting time and cost over 2 years.
Thanks for all the insight. Still not sure what she is going to do. I'm hoping with Special Ed and Reading endorsements she will be fine on the job market, and the master's won't hold her back if she goes that route.
The extra costs might be offset a little by commuting time and cost over 2 years.
Thanks for all the insight. Still not sure what she is going to do. I'm hoping with Special Ed and Reading endorsements she will be fine on the job market, and the master's won't hold her back if she goes that route.
Can you link me to Iowa State's program on this? She told me that you have to have a teaching license to get into this program?
It seems weird that the ISU advisor would recommend us to Drake if they offer this.
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I'm currently a college student working towards an elementary education degree. I am also looking into getting my masters, however schools won't hire you if you don't have any experience b/c they would have to pay you more and without any experience you're a bigger risk. I am looking into programs that you get two years of experience while getting your masters... benefits to this is they place you so you don't have to search for the job plus your pay/payments kind of equal out so it's not a fortune. The down side is there are none of these programs, that I have found, in Iowa, I think Minnesota has one but that's another thing to consider.
The advantage of getting the BA, and the endorsements is you have more options to teach. You can teach regular ed, special ed, or reading vs. just being able to teach regular elem ed. You are much more marketable with the endorsements. After a few years, then go back and get the masters.
School districts have less money than ever with stimulus funds expiring and real estate taxes are dropping, so they are going to pay in the cheap mode. Do not be surprised if Dept of Education takes some major hits to help salvage the fed deficit.
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