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If you love educating young people and enjoy introducing them to the wonders of the specific subjects you are passionate about, you might make a great secondary education teacher. Secondary education teachers work in middle schools, junior high schools and high schools throughout the country, imparting their subject-focused knowledge and expertise to students aged 11 to 18. From art to Spanish to AP biology, whatever your interest, there is a secondary school that needs qualified teachers who can enrich and inspire its students.
Middle School Teacher Positions Middle schools serve the youngest of America's secondary students. The concept began as a response to the new junior high school movement of the early 1900s. Middle school supporters resist junior high school's autonomous, challenging structure and instead stress the need for 6th through 8th graders to experience a more gradual and group-focused transition from elementary to high school. Middle school teachers at any given school generally make up a cohesive team that works with a specific group of students throughout the day. Each teacher leads different classes, but multiple teachers often work together to create an integrated learning experience for the students. Daily homerooms are often utilized by middle school teachers to foster a sense of belonging and give students a supportive foundation on which to build their day. Public middle school teaching jobs include classroom teachers in core subjects, such as math, science, social studies and English, as well as some of the following positions: Since middle schools utilize a simpler approach to these transitional years, the majority of classes tend to focus on core subjects. Likewise, middle school teachers with more specialized backgrounds such as foreign language, art or drama instruction may have to travel between different schools in a district to receive full-time hours.
Junior High Teacher Careers Junior high schools came into existence in 1909 as a way to bridge the gap between the simpler organization of elementary schools and the more advanced offerings of high schools. While their popularity has waned since the inception of middle schools, junior high schools are still utilized across the U.S. today. Most commonly, they serve children in grades 7 through 9 and use a system more closely related to high school than elementary or even middle school. Junior high teachers specialize in their own subjects of expertise and teach classes independently of other teachers. While they may choose to integrate projects with other teachers, the more team-oriented approach of middle school is not present. Instead, junior high teachers enjoy the freedom to focus or expand their offerings depending on student interest and ability. Some schools even offer additional elective or honors classes to help students concentrate their studies at a younger age. Classes such as student leadership, dance and public speaking may appear on junior high class offerings. Junior high teaching jobs include the core subjects as well as positions covering more varied subject matter: With these wider class offerings comes an opportunity for junior high teachers to teach classes that stretch their comfort zones or express other interests.
High School Teacher Jobs Also called senior high schools, high schools in the US typically serve grades 9 through 12—the school years included when calculating grade point average (GPA) and counted toward college entrance criteria. High schools typically fit into one of four classifications: vocational high school, alternative high school, college preparatory high school or general high school. As a group, general high schools vastly outnumber the others, but each serves a distinct purpose in the education of our youth: Vocational High Schools: Less popular in the U.S. than in other countries, these schools offer job-specific training for those students who do not plan on pursuing college-level studies. Alternative High Schools: These schools offer nontraditional teaching methods and a more flexible schedule for students who do not thrive in a general high school setting. College Preparatory High Schools: Often privately run, these schools are designed to prepare students for college by offering a challenging atmosphere, advanced placement (AP) courses and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. General High Schools: General high school teacher jobs are highly specialized and are held by educators who are well-trained and certified to teach specific subjects. Each teacher is often responsible for a single classroom from which they teach a number of different classes throughout the day. A teacher endorsed in mathematics might teach two algebra classes, a trigonometry class and an AP calculus class each day. Another who is endorsed in theater and performance might teach a class on stage lighting, one on acting technique, one on backstage managing and another directing rehearsal for a school play or musical.
The Rewards of a Secondary Teaching Job Middle school, junior high and high school teacher jobs can be challenging because the students in this age group are undergoing tremendous physical and mental changes as they rapidly mature into young adulthood, and that usually means tumultuous and sometimes volatile emotions and behavior. However, teachers who can stimulate curiosity and initiate exploration can have an immense impact on these students. An effective and influential secondary teacher can help his or her students find a subject and even a career they will love, and the immeasurable satisfaction this provides is often that teacher's real reward. If you are interested in pursuing a career in secondary education, start by finding a degree program today. |
